최규하 崔圭夏
Diplomat and politician who served as the 10th President of the Republic of Korea
| Life | 1919 ~ 2006 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 강릉 최씨 |
Life & career
His pen name was Hyeonseok. A career diplomat who had studied in Japan and Manchuria, he entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as foreign minister, special presidential adviser for foreign affairs, and prime minister.
When President Park Chung-hee was assassinated in the October 26 Incident of 1979, he served as acting president and was then elected the 10th President by the National Conference for Unification. However, amid the December 12 military coup and the rise of the New Military group, he stepped down from the presidency in August 1980.
He is recorded as Korea's first president to have come from the office of prime minister.
Grave
Buried in the section for heads of state at the Daejeon National Cemetery.