Choi Tae-min
Born(1912-05-05)5 May 1912
So-dong, Sariwon, Hwanghae
Died1 May 1994(1994-05-01) (aged 81)
Yeoksam-dong, Seoul
EducationChaeryong Potong School
SpouseLim Seon-yi
ChildrenChoi Soon-sil
RelativesChung Yoo-ra (granddaughter)
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationChoe Tae-min
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe T'ae-min
Birth name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationChoe Do-won
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe To-wŏn

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.[1] Choi, originally a Buddhist monk, then a convert to Presbyterian pastor, was married six times. He was the mentor of the impeached South Korean president, Park Geun-hye (the daughter of former president Park Chung Hee), until his death in 1994. He allegedly used his relationship with Park to solicit bribes from government officials and businessmen.[2][3] In late 2016, a scandal involving his daughter, Choi Soon-sil, broke out, with allegations that she too has exerted undue influence over President Park.[3][4]

History

Choi Tae-min set up a religious group called Yongsae-gyo (영세교), or "Church of the Spirit World", and declared himself Maitreya, or a "Future Buddha".[5] He befriended Park Geun-hye soon after her mother, Yuk Young-soo, was assassinated in 1974. According to a report by the Korean Central Intelligence Agency from the 1970s that was published by a South Korean news magazine in 2007, Choi initially approached Park Geun-hye by telling her that her mother had appeared to him in his dreams, asking him to help her daughter.[6]

Choi was an associate of former-president President Park Chung Hee until the latter's death by assassination in 1979. Kim Jae-gyu, the director of the KCIA who assassinated President Park Chung Hee, told a court that one of his motives was what he called the president's failure to stop Choi Tae-min's corrupt activities and keep him away from his daughter.[3]

In a newspaper interview in 2007, Park Geun-hye called Choi a patriot and said she was grateful for his counsel and comfort during "difficult times".

A 2007 leaked diplomatic cable from the American Embassy in Seoul reported rumors that Mr. Choi, a 'Korean Rasputin', "had complete control over Park’s body and soul during her formative years and that his children accumulated enormous wealth as a result."[7]

Frequently-used names

He used seven different names:[8][3]

References

  1. ^ "Shamanistic cult linked to president". Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  2. ^ "South Korea's leader acknowledges ties to woman in scandal". Fox News. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Choe, Sang-hun (27 October 2016). "A Presidential Friendship Has Many South Koreans Crying Foul". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  4. ^ Kim, Oi-hyun (3 December 2014). "Pres. Park's former aide and his wife may be at the center of ongoing scandal". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  5. ^ "O que está acontecendo na Coreia do Sul: política, seitas e corrupção". Archived from the original on 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  6. ^ "A Rasputinesque mystery woman and a cultish religion could take down South Korea's president". 28 October 2016.
  7. ^ Lim, Min-hyuk (28 October 2016). "Leaked U.S. Embassy Cable Warned of 'Rasputin' Behind Park". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  8. ^ Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), 1979.
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