Choe Deok-sin

Choe Deok-sin (September 17, 1914 – November 14, 1989) was a South Korean Foreign Minister who later defected with his wife, Ryu Mi-yong, to North Korea.^[1]

In 1936, Choe graduated from Republic of China Military Academy, and served as a Republic of China Army officer.^[2] When World War II ended, Choe was promoted to colonel.^[2] After the war Choe returned to South Korea and entered Army Academy as a second lieutenant.^[2] In 1949, Choe entered the United States Army Academy.^[2] On 14 July 1950, Choe returned to South Korea.^[2] Choe served as a commanding general of 11th division under the United States IX Corps during Korean War.^[2]^[3] His division carried out the Sancheong-Hamyang and Geochang massacres. After the military coup, from 1961 to 1963, Choe served as a Foreign Minister and Ambassador to West Germany.^[1]

In 1986, Choe defected with his wife Ryu Mi-yong to North Korea from their exile in the United States, where they had been known for their opposition to the policies of the South Korean military government.^[4] Choe served as a chief of the central committee of the Chondogyo religious movement and vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.^[1]^[4]

Bibliography

Choe Deok-sin (1972). Panmunjom and After. New York: Vantage Press. OCLC 754916.
— (1987). The Nation and I: For the Reunification of the Motherland. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. OCLC 17933376.
— (1989). My Thirty Years in South Korea: Amid the Tragedy of National Division. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. OCLC 21567991.
— (1990). In the Embrace of My Motherland. Pyongyang: Foreign Languages Publishing House. OCLC 27117555.

Political offices
Preceded by Song Yo-chan	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea 1961-1963	Succeeded by Gim Yong-sik

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