Ch'oe Ŭi

Ch'oe Ŭi (; 1233–1258) was the fourth and last Ch'oe dictator of the Ubong Ch'oe Military regime.

Early life When he was born in 1233, his father was Choe Hang, and his mother was his Ch'oe U’s concubine. In 1257, Ch'oe Ŭi became military leader of Goryeo after his father's death. He was known for his handsome appearance, quiet demeanor, and reticent personality, as well as for being very shy. Although his mother was a servant, since Choi Hang's legitimate wife had no children, he was chosen to continue the family line. In his youth, he studied poetry and calligraphy under Ye Gi (芮起), politics under Gwon Wi (權韙) and Im Ik (任翊), and ceremonial rites under Jeong Se-sin (鄭世臣).

In 1255 (the 42nd year of King Gojong's reign), Choe Ui became Palace Internal Attendant (전중내급사) and was granted a red leather belt (홍정, 紅鞓). When his father died in 1257, Seon In-yeol (宣仁烈), Yu Neung (柳能), and others, along with Jeon Jeon (殿前) and Choi Yang-baek (崔良伯), gathered forces such as the Yabyeolcho (夜別抄), Shinuigun (神義軍), Seobang Sambon (書房三番) and Dobang (도방) to protect him, ensuring that he succeeded his father's power. As a result, the king appointed him Acting General (차장군) and allowed him to inherit the title of Chief Controller (Gyojeongbyeolgam, 敎定別監). Becoming Chief Controller meant he was the de facto military ruler. King Gojong then tried to appoint him as Deputy Commissioner of the Privy Council and Minister of State Affairs (추밀원부사 판이병부어사대사), but Choe Ui declined.

In March 1258, Byeoljang (別將, a military officer) Kim Jun (金俊) put forward Choe On, the Minister of the Privy Council, General Park Seong-jae, Doryeong Nangjang (都領郎將) Im Yeon (林衍), and Daesaseong (大司成, a high-ranking academic official) Yu Gyeong (柳璥) as the main plotters. Choe On was Choe Hang’s father-in-law and a member of the Cheorwon Choe clan, one of the highest aristocratic families of the time, closely intermarried with Choe Chungheon’s family. Park Seong-jae had been a guest-retainer of Choe Hang. By presenting such well-connected figures as ringleaders, Kim Jun sought support from those close to the regime.

Choe On and Park Seong-jae cooperated, showing that many once closely tied to the Choe family were now dissatisfied and that Choe Ui’s removal had effectively been decided in advance. The Night Patrol (Yabyeolcho), Divine Righteous Army, and Dobang guards were used in the coup. Since these units had long served as the Choe family’s private troops, it is clear Choe Ui was overthrown by the very military forces the regime had relied on. In the end, the Choe Regime—built on a strong autocratic system—was destroyed from within, and the political power that followed fell into the hands of figures who had once been its closest associates.

Family Father: Ch'oe Hang (; 1209 – 17 May 1257) Grandfather: Ch'oe U (; 1166 – 10 December 1249) Grandmother: Seo Ryeon-bang Mother: Unnamed concubine Wives: Lady Yi of the Inju Yi clan – No issue. Lady Sim Kyŏng – No issue.

In popular culture Portrayed by Baek Jong-Min in the 2012 MBC TV series God of War.