# Ch'oe Hang (military official)

Ch'oe Hang (Korean: 최항; Hanja: 崔沆; 1209 – 17 May 1257) was the third dictator of the Ch'oe military regime, which dominated Goryeo for six decades before and during the Mongol invasions. Ch'oe Hang continued on his predecessor Ch'oe U's anti-Mongol policy, and refused to surrender to the invaders. It is believed that the Ch'oe Military Regime began to decline during his eight-year reign.

## Background and rise to power

Ch'oe Hang was born the son of Ch'oe U, the second dictator of the Ch'oe Military regime, and a concubine. His grandfather, Ch'oe Ch'ung-hŏn, was the founder of the Ch'oe military regime, and the second head of the Ubong Ch'oe clan. Ch'oe Hang spent most of his youth in the Cholla Provinces studying Son Buddhism thought as a monk with his brother Manjong. Ch'oe Hang's father, Ch'oe U, originally intended for his son-in-law, Kim Yak-sŏn, and then his grandson, Kim Mi, to be his successors, but both were exiled and banished as a result of disagreements. Upon seeing the need to secure an heir, Ch'oe U decided on establishing Hang as his successor. Ch'oe U called Hang in from the Cholla Provinces and placed him in the tutelage of some of Goryeo's finest scholars of the time. Hang was promoted to Minister of Revenue, and within a year, he entered into the Security Council. Around this time, Hang was given five hundred house soldiers. Finally, in the eleventh month of 1249, Ch'oe U died, after which the Ch'oe bodyguards almost instantly went to guard Hang's house.

## Reign

Upon officially becoming the next Ch'oe dictator in 1249, Ch'oe Hang took rapid steps to secure his position. He became the Euncheongwangnoktaebu (Grand Guardian of the Palace Guards), Chupiwonambussa (Vice-Director of the Privy Council), Eobupangseochasataebu (Chief Censor and Minister of War), and Taejabingak (Guest of the Crown Prince). He also concurrently served as the Tongseobuggyeongbyeongsasa (Commander of the Eastern, Western, and Northern Frontier Armies) and Gyeongjeonbyeolgam (Specially Appointed Censor).
He first eliminated officials, concubines and followers of his father, the greatest among which was the Tae family. Choe Hang was particularly jealous and sent into exile the Chupyonwansa (Privy Council Councillor) Min Heu and the Chupiwonambussa Kim Gyeong-son, who had previously gained popular support. He also killed the former Chupiwonambussa Ju Sok and the Hyeongbuseocang (Minister of Justice) Park Hwon. In 1251, he poisoned and exiled his stepmother Dae-ssi, and killed Kim Gyeong-son.
He also eliminated all former supporters of Kim Mi, who had been banished by Ch'oe U. He also banished many popular government figures such as Min Hŭi and Kim Kyŏng-son. King Gojong bestowed the title of 'Duke of Chinyang', which was a title that Ch'oe U had been given, on Ch'oe Hang. Shortly after, Hang was promoted to the Head of Security Council, the Ministries of Civil Personnel and Military Affairs.
In the early stages of his rule, he exempted the separate tributes (byeolgong) and fishery taxes (eorangsen-se) from the local areas, and recalled the inspectors of the Gyeongjeontodam (Pacification Council) who had been extorting the people, assigning their duties to the an-chalsa (Inspectors-General), in an effort to gain popular support. However, he gradually indulged in luxury and pleasure, and killed many who displeased him.
Regarding policy towards the Mongols, in 1250 he built a new palace in Seungcheonbu (present-day Kaepung, Gyeonggi Province) in response to the Mongol demand to leave Ganghwa Island, but in 1252 he strongly opposed the king's plan to meet with a Mongol envoy there. During this time, he declined the king's offer to appoint him as Munhasisung (Chancellor) and Jinyugu (Duke of Jinyang). In 1253, he again declined the appointment as Munhasisung and Ipuosadaesa (Minister of Personnel and Grand Censor).
That year, the Mongol general Yagul invaded with a large army. He rejected a letter from the royal prince Wang Jun of Yeonnyeong, who was with the Mongols, urging him to send the crown prince or prince Aneungong Wang Chang to request a withdrawal. However, when the Mongols ravaged the country, the king went to the new palace in Seungcheonbu to receive the Mongol envoy, thus averting a crisis for the time being.
In 1254, he declined the king's order to establish a government office, but later became the Jungseoryeong Gamsuguksa (Director of the Secretariat and National Teacher). In 1256, he was enfeoffed as Jechungganmingongsin (Meritorious Subject Who Pacified and Benefited the People). After his death, he was posthumously honored as the Duke of Jinpyeong.

## Family

* Father: Ch'oe U (최우; 1166 – 10 December 1249)
* Mother: Lady Seo Ryeon-bang (서련방) – a prostitute.
* Wives and their issue(s):
** Lady, of the Cheorwon Ch'oe clan (부인 철원 최씨) – No issue.
** Lady, of the Hoengseong Cho clan (부인 횡성 조씨) – No issue.
** Unnamed concubine
*** Ch'oe Ui (최의; 1238–1258)
** Lady Sim Kyŏng (심경) – No issue.

## Popular culture

* Portrayed by Baek Do-bin in the 2012 MBC TV series God of War.