Righteous army leader who died at the second battle of Jinju Fortress in the Imjin War (posthumous title Chungui)
| Life | 1532 ~ 1593 |
| Era | 조선 |
| Clan | 해주 최씨 |
Choe Gyeong-hoe (1532-1593) was a mid-Joseon civil official and righteous army leader of the Haeju clan, with courtesy name Seonu, pen names Samgye and Ilhyudang, and posthumous title Chungui. He was born in Neungju (present Hwasun), Jeolla.
He passed the saengwon and jinsa examinations in 1561 and the civil examination in 1567, serving as Seonggyungwan jeonjeok, Inspector, Assistant Minister of Punishments, magistrate of Okgu, Jangsu and Mujang, governor of Yeongam and Yeonghae, and magistrate of Damyang. Home for mourning in 1590, he raised volunteers in Hwasun when the Imjin War began and, after Go Gyeong-myeong fell at Geumsan, gathered the remaining troops and was chosen as leader.
He became Gyeongsang-udo Military Commander in February 1593, and in June fought at the second battle of Jinju with Kim Cheon-il, Hwang Jin and Go Jong-hu; when the fortress fell after nine days he is said to have plunged into the Nam River. He was posthumously made Minister of Personnel, honored with a memorial gate, ranked first-class Seonmu Wonjong merit subject, and in 1753 raised to Jwachanseong with the title Chungui.
In 1592 he gathered some 500 men in Hwasun, held the Japanese at Geumsan and Muju, and won a major victory against retreating troops at Ujiji. This is credited with laying the groundwork for the defense of Jinju.
In June 1593 he fought at Jinju against the attack led by Kato Kiyomasa, and when the fortress fell he is said to have thrown himself into the Nam River. Most of the soldiers and people defending the fortress were killed.
As magistrate of Jangsu he is said to have let Nongae and her mother stay at the government office, and took them along when moved to Mujang. Accounts disagree on whether she was a concubine or later wife; her death at Jinju is widely told.
A shrine to him in Hwasun (Jeonnam Cultural Heritage Material No. 64) was built under Sunjo, and he is enshrined at Pochungsa in Neungju, Changnyeolsa in Jinju and Wolgangsa in Jangsu. A few pieces, such as a memorial text for Gi Dae-seung, survive in the Gobongjip.
Nongae (Uiam buin) is recorded as his concubine (or later wife). He is said to have had three sons and two daughters; a shrine to him stands in Hwasun.