Goryeo officer who held Jaju Fortress against the Mongols
| Life | 1250 |
| Era | 고려 |
| Clan | 해주 최씨 |
Choe Chun-myeong (d. 1250) was a Goryeo officer under Gojong, of the Haeju clan and a descendant of Choe Chung. His father was Choe Hyeok and his son Choe Nyeom. His birth year is unknown; he is said to have died on the 8th day of the 9th month of 1250.
During the first Mongol invasion in 1231 he fought, as deputy magistrate of Jaju Fortress, the Mongol troops that besieged it. When the Mongols abandoned the siege and moved south he attacked their rear with great success, and the fortress did not fall when they attacked again.
When Sartai besieged Gaegyeong in December of that year the Goryeo court surrendered, but Choe Chun-myeong refused calls to yield and is said to have driven off the envoy Dae Jip-seong with arrows. After the Mongol withdrawal Choe U and Dae Jip-seong tried to execute him for defiance, but he was saved by a Mongol official's intervention and was later appointed Chumillwon busa.
In 1231 as deputy magistrate he repelled the Mongol siege and struck the rear of the Mongols as they left the fortress. The Mongols returned in 1232 without taking it.
He held the fortress even after the court surrendered and drove off Dae Jip-seong, who came to urge it. A Mongol official reportedly stepped in when Choe U and Dae Jip-seong sought to execute him.
Wikipedia has no separate assessment section, but notes a 2019 paper by Gang Jae-gwang on the Jaju battle and his role. He also appears in the 2012 MBC drama Musin.
Son Choe Nyeom, granddaughter's husband Bak Jeon-ji; said to be a descendant of Choe Chung.