Independence Merit Recipient · March First Movement · Presidential Commendation (2018)
| Life | 1892 |
| Era | 근현대 |
| Clan | 경주 최씨 |
The Ungok mass demonstration — Cheongyang's first March First Movement protest — began on April 3, 1919 in Miryang-ri, Ungok-myeon, and culminated in a torch-lit demonstration on the night of April 6, when some 600 residents from six villages of Ungok-myeon climbed Guksabong to shout for independence by torchlight, evading Japanese surveillance. Choi Won-sin (born January 20, 1892 in Yeongyang-ri, Ungok-myeon, Cheongyang), took part in that protest and climbed the mountain again on the night of April 8 to demonstrate once more.
He was arrested and taken to the Cheongyang gendarmerie post, where on April 21 he was sentenced to 70 strokes of corporal punishment. Ninety-five villagers were arrested in connection with the protests. The Republic of Korea posthumously awarded him a Presidential Commendation in 2018.