Choi Hyung-woo, Former Interior Minister, Dies at 91

Choi Hyung-woo, a prominent South Korean politician and former Minister of Home Affairs, passed away on October 24, 2026, at the age of 91. As of October 24, 2026, he was under care at the Central Veterans Hospital in Seoul, where he died at 3:30 a.m.

Why it is trending now

The death of Choi Hyung-woo has drawn significant public attention due to his status as a key political figure in South Korean history. Known as the "eternal right-hand man" of former President Kim Young-sam, he was a core member of the Sangdo-dong faction and a central player in the nation's democratization efforts during the 1970s and 1980s.

Key facts

• Choi Hyung-woo was born in 1935 in Ulsan and graduated from Dongguk University, according to Yonhap News.
• He was a 6-term lawmaker who first entered the National Assembly in 1971, as reported by Yonhap News.
• During the 1970s and 1980s, he faced repeated detention and torture by military authorities for his opposition to the regimes of Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan, according to reports.
• He served as Minister of Home Affairs under the Kim Young-sam administration, according to Yonhap News.
• The funeral committee is chaired by figures including Kwon No-gap, Kim Deok-ryong, and Chung Dae-chul, with joint chairpersons Kim Min-seok and Jang Dong-hyuk, per Yonhap News.

Why this is trending in South Korea

Choi Hyung-woo remains a significant figure in South Korean political history for his role in the transition to civilian government and his participation in the 4.19 Revolution. His passing marks the loss of a major representative of the Sangdo-dong political circle.

Background and context

Choi Hyung-woo's career spanned several decades of intense political transition in South Korea. After his initial election in 1971, he became a voice against authoritarian rule, leading to his loss of parliamentary status under military rule. He later rejoined mainstream politics, contributing to the establishment of the civilian government in the 1990s. Following a stroke in 1997, he had been living away from active public life.

What happens next

The funeral service is currently being organized by the Korea Parliamentary Society and the 4.19 Revolution Meritorious Association. The wake is held at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul. The funeral procession is set to take place on October 27, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., followed by the interment at the National 4.19 Democratic Cemetery.