Choi Chungheon
Template:Koreanname Choi Chungheon (1149-1219) was a military ruler of Korea during the Goryeo period.
Chungheon's father before him was a Grand General in the Goryeo military. Following in his footsteps, Chungheon entered the military. However, he remained a captain until middle age. Chungheon became aware that military men could become all-powerful after seeing the quick succession of de facto leadership among the generals who deposed one another during the period. Chungheon plotted against the long standing war council while feigning fealty to the newly promoted supreme general and council head Lee Euimin. After many years of humiliation and hardship, Chungheon and his subordinates launched a coup d'etat while Lee Euimin was away. After destroying the war council members and killing Lee Euimin, he became a force to be reckoned with.
Although the coup was a success, Chungheon did not take full power as he was cautious in fear of becoming "drunk with power" as the other de facto leaders had become after taking control. However soon Choi became Prime Minister of the State and Royal Protector, seeing the abdication of 4 kings (asked for 2 of the 4), 3 rebellions and numerous attempts on his life. Finally during the early reign of King Gojong, Chungheon retired, handing his position to his eldest son Choi-U(최우) (though not without bloodshed as his youngest attempted to take it for himself). Choi Chungheon died of age at 72 during the year 1219.
Until the death of Chungheon's grandsons, the Choi family reigned supreme over the political and military frontier of Goryeo society. Choi-U, Choi-Hang, and Choi-Ui passed the legacy of Choi Chungheon for sixty years until it collapsed with the assassination of Choi-Ui, Chungheon's great-grandson.