Choi is a Korean family surname. As of the South Korean census of 2015, there were around 2.3 million people by this name in
South Korea or roughly 4.7% of the population.
In English-speaking countries, it is most often anglicized ''Choi'', and sometimes also ''Chey'', ''Choe'' or ''Chwe''.
Ethnic Koreans in the former USSR prefer the form ''Tsoi'' (''Tsoy'') especially as a transcription of the Cyrillic Цой.
Origin
*According to
Samguk Sagi
''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Korea, ...
, the Gyeongju clan originates from chief Sobeoldori (소벌도리, 蘇伐都利) of Goheochon (고허촌, 高墟村), one of six villages that united to found
Silla; The Gyeongju clan traces their origin back to
Choi Chiwon
Choe Chiwon (; 857–10th century) was a Korean philosopher and poet of the late medieval Unified Silla period (668-935). He studied for many years in Tang China, passed the Tang imperial examination, and rose to the high office there befor ...
(857–10th century), a noted Korean scholar, philosopher, and poet of the late Unified
Silla period (668–935).
*One theory of origin suggests that Haeju clan's progenitor Choi Choong (최충, 崔沖, 984–1068) was given the surname 崔 during the reign of
Goryeo king
Mokjong.
*The progenitor of the Chungju clan is General Choi Seung (최승, 崔陞), also known as Choi Woo (최우, 崔偶), of
Silla (known as Cui Sheng in
Tang Dynasty)
*The progenitor of the Nangju clan is Choi Heun (최흔, 崔昕) of
Silla who was a native of
Yeongam (Nangju) of the southern
Jeolla region.
*Choi Ri (최리, 崔理), who was known as the leader of the
Kingdom of Nakrang
Clans
There are roughly 160
clans
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship
and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...
of Chois. Most of these are quite small. However, Choi is the 4th most common surname in Korea. The largest by far is the
Gyeongju Choi clan, with a 2000 South Korean population of 976,820. The Gyeongju Choe claim the
Silla scholar
Choe Chi-won
Choe Chiwon (; 857–10th century) was a Korean philosopher and poet of the late medieval Unified Silla period (668-935). He studied for many years in Tang China, passed the Tang imperial examination, and rose to the high office there before r ...
as their founder.
*
Gyeongju
Gyeongju ( ko, 경주, ), historically known as ''Seorabeol'' ( ko, 서라벌, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, ...
clan
– Choe Chiwon
*
Jeonju clan
–
Choe Bu
*
Dongju clan
*
Haeju clan
–
Choe Chung
Choe Chung (984–1068) was a Korean Confucian scholar and poet of the Haeju Choe clan during the Goryeo
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unifie ...
*
Saknyeong clan
–
Choe Hang, Choi Byung Ju (founding member modern era Korean Supreme Court)
*
Gangneung clan
*
Hwasun clan
*
Ganghwa clan
*
Yeongcheon clan
*
Tamjin clan
*
Ubong clan
–
Choe Hang
*
Suwaon clan
*
Yeongheung clan
*
Suseong clan
*
Chungju Choe clan
*
Goesan clan –
Choe Sejin
*
Heunghae
Heunghae is a town, or '' eup'' in Buk-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and s ...
clan
*
Yeongam clan
*
Taein clan
Etymology
Choi (
Hangul: 최) is written with the
Hanja character
崔, meaning "a
governor who oversees the land and the mountain". The surname Choi also means “mountain”.
Choi (崔), originally written in
Hanja, is derived from the combination of 2 ancient Chinese characters:
* is a pictogram symbolizing the mountains;
* is a pictogram symbolizing a bird.
Pronunciation
In Korean, 최 is usually pronounced "Chwe" or “Chey” except by some older speakers who pronounce it (this vowel sound is similar to the German ''ö''
. In English, it is most often pronounced "Choy", which sounds clearly different to its proper pronunciation but some go by “Chey”.
崔 is Romanized as ''Cuī'' and pronounced in Mandarin Chinese. It is ''Chēui'' in Cantonese and ''Chhui'' in Hokkien.
Prominent people of the past
*
Choe Chiwon (858-c. 910), Korean philosopher during the Silla dynasty
*
Choe Chung-heon
Choe Chung-heon (1149 – 29 October 1219) was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo period.
Choe's father was a Grand General in the Goryeo military, hence precipitating his own entry into the military. Choe witnessed military men become ...
(1149-1219), military dictator of the Goryeo period
*
Choe U
Choe U (; 1166 - 10 December 1249) was the second Choe dictator of the Ubong Choe Military regime. He himself went out on the battlefield to lead in fighting off the Mongolian invasions. Then he realized that the government was no longer safe ...
(???-1249), military dictator of the Goryeo period
*
Choe Yeong (1316–1388), military general under King Gongmin of Goryeo
*
Choe Mu-seon (1325-1395), Korean inventor
*
Choe Manri (???-1445), an early critic of
hangul
*
Choe Sejin (1465-1542), mostly known for his 1525 훈몽자회, aka ''Hangul for beginners''.
*
Choe Yeong-kyeong (1529-1590), Westerner, purged during the Gichuk Oksa
*
Suk-bin Choe (1670–1718), concubine of Sukjong and mother of Yeongjo of Joseon
[Note: ''suk-bin'' is a Joseon title, not a given name]
*
Choe Han-gi (1803-1877), Korean Confucian scholar and philosopher
*
Choe Je-u (1824-1864), founder of the Donghak movement
Prominent people today
General
*
Dan Choi (born 1981), American LGBT rights activist and former American officer
*
Choi Gee-sung (최지성, born 1951), high-ranking Samsung executive
*
Choi Hong Hi, South Korean general considered the principal founder of taekwondo
*
Jay Pil Choi, American economist
*
Choe Jun
Choe Jun (1884–1970) was a businessman and philanthropist in early 20th-century Korea. He was born in Gyeongju, in present-day South Korea. His family, known as the "Choe Bujatjip," had been known since the 17th century for their wealth an ...
(1884–1970), businessman and philanthropist
*
Choe Nam-seon (1890–1957), Korean historian and independence activist
*
Choi Tae-min
Choi Tae-min (5 May 1912 – 1 May 1994) was the leader of the Church of Eternal Life, a South Korean cult combining elements of Buddhism, Christianity, and traditional Korean Shamanism. Choi, originally a Buddhist monk, then a convert to Presby ...
, South Korean cult leader and founder of Yeongsegyo
*
Chey Tae-won, SK chairman
*
Choi Wonshik, optical physicist at
Korea University
Korea University (KU, ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the SKY universities, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities.
The ...
Politicians
*
Choi Kyoung-hwan, South Korean politician
*
Choi Kyu-hah (1919–2006), transitional President of South Korea following the assassination of Park Chung-hee
*
Sergey Tsoy (Choi Yong-eun), Russian politician
*
Steven Choi, American politician
*
Choe Ryong-hae (b. 1950), North Korean politician and military officer
*
Choe Kwang, North Korean general and politician
Arts
General
*
David Choe (born 1976), Korean American artist
*
Choi Han (최한), South Korean voice actor
*
Choi Han-bit
Choi Han-bit () is a South Korean model, actress and singer. She is a member of the South-Korean girl group Mercury. She is a graduate of the School of Dance at the Korean National University of Arts in Seoul, where she majored in Korean dance, ...
(최한빛, born 1987), South Korean model
*
Kristy Choi, Korean-American filmmaker
*
Choi Seong-woo
Choi Seong-woo (; born June 25, 1954) is a South Korean voice actress who joined the voice acting division of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation in 1976. Currently, Choi is cast in the Korea TV Edition of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" as Catherine ...
, South Korean voice actor
*
Sharon Choi (Choi Sung-jae 최성재, born 1994/1995), Korean-American interpreter and filmmaker
*
Choi Soo-jin, South Korean voice actress
*
Susan Choi
Susan Choi (born 1969) is an American novelist.
Early life and education
Choi was born in South Bend, Indiana to a Korean father and a Jewish mother. She attended public schools. When she was nine years old, her parents divorced. She and her m ...
, American novelist
*
Choi Won-hyeong, South Korean voice actor
*Choi Yang-il,
Yoichi Sai, Japanese film director
*
Choe Yong-gon (army commander)
Choe Yong-gon (; 21 June 1900 – 19 September 1976) was the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army from 1948 to 1950, North Korean defence minister from 1948 to 1957, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People ...
(1903-1972), high-ranking North Korean official
Actors and actresses
*
Choi Eun-hee (최은희, 1926–2018), South Korean actress once abducted to the North
*
Choi Go
Choi Go is a South Korean child actor and model. He is known for his roles in dramas such as ''Nobody Knows'', '' My Country: The New Age'', and ''Her Private Life''. He is best known for his role in the drama ''Into the Ring'' as Kim Ja-ryon ...
(born 2012), South Korean actor and model
*
Choi Ji-woo
Choi Ji-woo (born Choi Mi-hyang on June 11, 1975) is a South Korean actress. Considered one of South Korea's most beautiful women, she has received critical acclaim for her work in a wide range of melodramas, most notably '' Beautiful Days'' (2 ...
, South Korean actress
*
Choi Jin-sil (1968–2008), South Korean actress, nicknamed "The Nation's Actress"
*
Choi Jung-won (actress, born 1981)
Choi Jung-won (born April 24, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her roles on TV, notably in family drama ''Famous Princesses'' (2006), historical epic '' The Kingdom of the Winds'' (2008), romantic comedy ''Stars Falling fr ...
, South Korean actress
*
Choi Jung-yoon, South Korean actress
*
Kenneth Choi, American actor
*
Choi Kwon-soo, South Korean actor
*
Choi Min-sik, South Korean actor
*
Choi Ri
Choi Ri (born June 29, 1995) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her role in the historical
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the inventi ...
, South Korean actress
*
Choi Sung-eun
Choi Sung-eun (; born June 17, 1996) is a South Korean actress. She is known for roles in television dramas such as '' SF8'' (2020), ''Beyond Evil'' (2021), and ''The Sound of Magic'' (2022).
Early life and education
Choi Sung-eun was born on ...
, South Korean actress
*
Choi Sung-kook, South Korean actor and comedian
*
Choi Tae-hwan, South Korean actor
*
Choi Won-hong, South Korean actor
*
Choi Woo-hyuk (actor, born 1985), South Korean actor
*
Choi Woo-hyuk (actor, born 1997), South Korean actor
*
Choi Woo-shik
Choi Woo-shik (; born March 26, 1990) is an South Korean-Canadian actor based in South Korea. He first gained widespread recognition for his leading role in the film '' Set Me Free'' (2014). He then co-starred in the films ''Train to Busan'' (201 ...
, South Korean actor
Musicians and idols
*
Anita Tsoy
Anna Sergeyevna "Anita" Tsoy (russian: Анна Серге́евна "Анита" Цой; born Kim, russian: Ким; 7 February 1971, Moscow) is a Russian singer-songwriter of Korean descent. She is a Meritorious Artist of Russia (2003).
Early l ...
, Russian pop singer, wife of Sergey Tsoy
*
Choi Bo-min, South Korean actor and singer, member of boy band
Golden Child
Golden means made of, or relating to gold.
Golden may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
*Golden, in the parish of Probus, Cornwall
*Golden Cap, Dorset
* Golden Square, Soho, London
*Golden Valley, a valley on the River Frome in Gloucesters ...
*
Dasuri Choi, South Korean dancer, choreographer, singer and entertainer based in the Philippines
*
David Choi, Korean American musician
*
Seven (born Choi Dong-wook), South Korean singer
*
G.NA (born Gina Jane Choi), Canadian-born South Korean singer
*
Choi Hyun-suk, South Korean rapper and member of boy band
Treasure
*
Wheesung (born Choi Hwee-sung), South Korean singer
*
Jennifer Choi, American violinist
*
Jenny Choi
Jenny Choi is an American singer and cellist, who founded the Asians in Rock tour, and is the lead singer of the two-piece Chicago band, Sanawon. For many years she performed solo at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (where she ...
, American singer and cellist
*
Sulli
Choi Jin-ri (March 29, 1994 – October 13 or 14, 2019), better known by her stage name Sulli (), was a South Korean actress and singer. She first made her debut as a child actress, appearing as a supporting cast member on the SBS historical d ...
(born Choi Jin-ri), South Korean actress and former member of girl group
f(x)
F, or f, is the sixth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounced ), and the plural is ''efs''.
Hist ...
*
Changjo (born Choi Jong-hyun), South Korean singer and member of boy band
Teen Top
*
Choi Jong-hoon, South Korean singer and member of rock band
F.T. Island
*
Zelo (born Choi Jun-hong), South Korean singer and member of boy band
B.A.P
*
Choi Jung-in, South Korean singer
*
Choi Jung-won, South Korean singer
*
Ren Ren or REN may refer to:
Abbreviations
* Orenburg Tsentralny Airport, IATA code REN, civil airport in Russia
* Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), Portuguese company
* Renanthera, abbreviated as Ren, orchid genus
* Ringer equivalence number ( ...
(born Choi Min-gi), South Korean actor, singer, and television personality, member of boy band
NU'EST
*
Choi Min-ho, South Korean singer, member of boy band
Shinee
*
Choi Min-hwan
Choi Min-hwan (; Japanese:チェ•ミンファン; born 11 November 1992), also known by his mononym Minhwan, is a South Korean singer, musician, drummer and actor. He is a member of rock band F.T. Island, in which he serves as the drummer and ...
, South Korean singer and drummer, member of rock band
F.T. Island
*
T.O.P (born Choi Seung-hyun), South Korean actor and singer, member of boy band
Big Bang
The Big Bang event is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models of the Big Bang explain the evolution of the observable universe from the ...
*
Choi Siwon
Choi Si-won (; born 7 April 1986), known mononymously as Siwon, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, model, and actor known for his work as a member of South Korean boy group Super Junior. Choi committed as special representative of UNICEF K ...
, south Korean actor and singer, member of boy band
Super Junior
Super Junior (; stylized in all caps), also known as SJ or SuJu, is a South Korean boy band formed by Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment in 2005. They are also dubbed by the media as the "King of Hallyu Wave" due to their prominent ...
*
Choi Soo-young, South Korean actress and singer, member of girl group
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piece ensembl ...
*
Choi Sung-min, South Korean singer, member of boy band
Speed and the co-ed group
Coed School
*
Bada (born Choi Sung-hee), South Korean singer and musical theatre actress
*
Viktor Tsoi, Soviet rock musician, leader of rock band
Kino
*
Choi Ye-na, South Korean singer and former member of girl group
Iz*One
*
Choi Young-jae, South Korean actor and singer, member of boy band
Got7
*
Choi Yoo-jung, South Korean singer, member of girl groups
I.O.I and
Weki Meki
*
Choi Yu-jin, South Korean singer and actress, member of girl groups
CLC CLC may refer to:
Religion
* Christian Life Centre, a number of individual and networked Pentecostal churches in Australia
* Christian Life Community, an international association of lay Christians
* Church of the Lutheran Confession, an American ...
and
Kep1er
*
Yuju (born Choi Yu-na), South Korean singer, former member of girl group
GFriend
*
Hyojung (born Choi Hyo-jung), South Korean singer, member of girl group
Oh My Girl
*
Arin
The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) is the regional Internet registry for Canada, the United States, and many Caribbean and North Atlantic islands. ARIN manages the distribution of Internet number resources, including IPv4 and IPv ...
(born Choi Ye-won), South Korean singer, member of girl group
Oh My Girl
*
Cui Jian, Chinese rock musician
Sports
*
Choi Cheol-han, South Korean professional Go player
*
Choe Chol-su (born 1969), North Korean boxer
*
Choi Da-bin (born 2000), South Korean figure skater
*
Choi Eun-kyung (born 1984), South Korean short track speed skater and double Olympic Champion
*
Choi Eun-kyung (field hockey)
Choi Eun-Kyung (born 23 September 1971) is a South Korean former field hockey player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly ...
(born 1971), South Korean former field hockey player
*
Hee-seop Choi (born 1979), South Korean former professional baseball player
*
Choi Hong-man (born 1980), South Korean kickboxer
*
Ji-man Choi
Ji-man Choi (Hangul: 최지만; Hanja: 崔志萬; ; born May 19, 1991) is a South Korean professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). Choi is capable of playing at the designated hitter, first basem ...
(born 1991), South Korean professional baseball player
*
Choi Jin-cheul
Choi Jin-cheul (born 26 March 1971) is a South Korean football manager and former player.
International career
Choi was an influential centre-back in the South Korea national football team. He made 65 appearances for the national team incl ...
(born 1971), South Korean former football player
*
Choi Jung-won (speed skater) (born 1990), South Korean short track speed skater
*
Choi Kwang-jo (born 1942), South Korean martial artist, founder and head of ''
Choi Kwang-Do''
*
Choi Kyung-ju
Choi Kyung-Ju ( ko, 최경주; born 19 May 1970), commonly known as K. J. Choi, is a South Korean professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. Since turning pro in 1994, he has won more than twenty p ...
(born 1970, better known as K. J. Choi), South Korean professional golfer
*
Choi Mi-sun (born 1966), South Korean
recurve archer
*
Choe Myong-ho (born 1988), North Korean football player
*
Choi Myung-hoon
Choi Myung-hoon (born May 12, 1975) is a professional Go player
Player may refer to:
Role or adjective
* Player (game), a participant in a game or sport
** Gamer, a player in video and tabletop games
** Athlete, a player in sports
** Playe ...
(born 1975), South Korean professional Go player
*
Choi Na-yeon (born 1987), South Korean professional golfer
*
Choi Soon-ho (born 1962), South Korean football manager and former professional football player
*
Choi Sung-kuk (born 1983), South Korean former football player
*
Choi Sung-yong
Choi Sung-yong (born 25 December 1975) is a former South Korean football wing-back and midfielder. Known for his good stamina and concentration, Choi was noted for his ability for man-to-man defense. He performed a role to concentrate on ma ...
(born 1975), South Korean former football player
*
Choi Tae-uk
Choi Tae-uk ( ko, 최태욱; Hanja: 崔兌旭; born 13 March 1981) is a South Korean football coach and former player who is assistant coach of South Korea.
Club career
Choi is a natural winger well known for his great speed. He was identif ...
(born 1981), South Korean former football player
*
Choi Won-jong
Choi Won-jong is a South Korean archer. At the 2005 Korean National Sports Festival in Ulsan, Choi set a world record by shooting a perfect score of 120 (twelve consecutive shots in the bullseye) in the semifinals of the club-division archery in ...
, South Korean archer
*
Choi Won-kwon (born 1981), South Korean former football player
*
Choi Yeon-sung, South Korean retired professional StarCraft player
*
Choe Yeong-ui (1923–1994, better known as Mas Oyama), karate master who founded
Kyokushin karate
*
Choi Yong-soo
Choi Yong-soo (born 10 September 1973) is a South Korean professional football manager and former player.
Playing career
Choi played as a striker for Anyang LG Cheetahs (currently FC Seoul) in South Korea's K League. In 2000, he led Anyang ...
(born 1973), South Korean footballer
*
Choi Yong-soo (boxer) (1972), South Korean retired boxer
*
Choi Yong-sool (1904–1986), founder of
Hapkido
*
Yuhui Choe
Yuhui Choe ( ko, 최유희,崔有熙) is a Korean ballet dancer. She is a first soloist at The Royal Ballet. Early life
Choe was born in Fukuoka, Japan. Choe started ballet training at the age of five. At the age of 14, Choe left her family an ...
(born 1986), Japanese-born Korean ballet dancer
*
Choi Yu-jin (figure skater) (born 2000), South Korean figure skater
*
Choi Yun-kyum (born 1962), South Korean football coach
See also
*
Cui – Chinese surname
*
Choi
*
Tsoi
*
List of Korean family names
References
External links
Official site of the Gyeongju Choi Association, in Korean
{{Authority control
Korean-language surnames
Surnames of Korean origin