Chief State Councillor who accompanied King Seonjo during the Imjin War; incorruptible official; Prince Yeongpyeong; posthumous title Chungjeong
| Life | 1529 ~ 1603 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 삭녕 최씨 |
Choe Heung-won (1529-1603) was a mid-Joseon civil official of the Sangnyeong Choe clan, styled Bokcho with the pen name Songcheon. A great-grandson of Chief State Councillor Choe Hang, his grandfather was Choe Yeong-ho and his father Choe Su-jin. He passed the 1568 special civil examination and rose through posts such as Deputy Royal Secretary, Vice-minister of War, Inspector-General, Governor of Pyeongan and Minister of War to Right, Left and Chief State Councillor.
For accompanying King Seonjo in the Imjin War he was named a second-class Hoseong merit subject (and held other merit titles), enfeoffed as Prince Yeongpyeong and chosen as an incorruptible official. His posthumous title is Chungjeong.
His line runs from great-grandfather Choe Hang and grandfather Choe Yeong-ho to his father Choe Su-jin; his mother was a daughter of Yi Se-sin and his wife a daughter of Gwon Eung-chang. He thus belongs to the Chanseong-gong branch.
After passing in 1568 he held posts in the Censorate and Remonstrance office and concurrently served as magistrate of Dongnae and Bupyeong. He was dismissed over the Hyoreung supervision matter and recalled as royal secretary, and eventually rose to Chief State Councillor and Prince Yeongpyeong.
He was selected as an incorruptible official and given a commemorative tablet. His tomb and stele in Paju were designated Paju City Local Heritage No. 9 in 2001, with a memorial gate.
Adong-dong, Paju, Gyeonggi Province (Tomb and stele of Choe Heung-won, Paju City Local Heritage No. 9, 2001). A memorial gate stands there, and he is enshrined at Hoguksa in Boryeong.
A son, Choe San-rip, is recorded.