Choi Kyu-ha facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Choi Kyu-hah
10th President of South Korea
In office 1979–1980
Preceded by	Park Chung Hee
Succeeded by	Chun Doo-hwan
Personal details
Born	July 16, 1919 Wonju, Gangwon
Died	October 22, 2006 Mapo-gu, Seoul

In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.

Choi Kyu-hah (born July 16, 1919 – died October 22, 2006) was a leader of South Korea. He served as the country's 10th President from 1979 to 1980. He was also known as Choi Kyu-ha.

Choi Kyu-hah was born in a town called Wonju, which is in Gangwon Province. Before becoming president, he held important government jobs. He was the foreign minister of South Korea from 1967 to 1971. Later, he became the prime minister from 1975 to 1979.

How Did Choi Kyu-hah Become President?

In 1979, the previous president, Park Chung Hee, was no longer in power. At that time, Choi Kyu-hah was the prime minister. He stepped up to lead the country.

Many people were unhappy with how President Park had ruled. They wanted more freedom and fair elections. Choi Kyu-hah promised to create a new constitution and hold democratic elections. People hoped these elections would be truly fair. Later that year, in December, Choi won an election and became the fourth president of South Korea.

What Happened During His Presidency?

Choi Kyu-hah's time as president was short and challenging. In December 1979, a military leader named Major General Chun Doo-hwan and his allies in the army took control. They staged a military coup against Choi's government.

They quickly removed the army chief of staff. By early 1980, Chun and his group had almost complete control over the government.

Why Did Choi Kyu-hah Resign?

In April 1980, Chun Doo-hwan put more pressure on President Choi. Choi then appointed Chun to lead the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. This gave Chun a lot of power.

In May, Chun declared martial law. This meant the military took over all government functions. Chun became the real ruler of the country. At this time, many students in Seoul and Gwangju were protesting. The protests in Gwangju continued, leading to a sad event called the Gwangju Massacre. During this time, over 200 civilians were killed by Chun's military.

Soon after these events, Choi Kyu-hah resigned from his position. Chun Doo-hwan then became president on September 1, 1980. After leaving office, Choi Kyu-hah lived a quiet life away from public attention. He passed away on October 22, 2006, when he was 87 years old.

Related pages

• List of Korea-related topics

See also

In Spanish: Choi Kyu-hah para niños