1. Early Life and Education
Choi Hye-young's early life and academic pursuits laid the foundation for her later career as a prominent advocate and politician.
1.1. Childhood and Accident
Born on June 1, 1979, in Naedo, Ilun-myeon, Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do, Choi Hye-young initially harbored aspirations of becoming a ballerina. She actively pursued this dream, studying dance at Silla University. However, her life took an unforeseen turn in 2003 when she was involved in a traffic collision that resulted in quadriplegia due to a spinal cord injury. This profound personal experience necessitated a shift in her life's direction, leading her to reconsider her career path and ultimately dedicate herself to improving the lives of others, particularly those with disabilities. Following the accident, she began to live in a wheelchair, a circumstance that profoundly shaped her future endeavors in advocacy and social welfare.
1.2. Education
Despite the challenges posed by her disability, Choi Hye-young continued her academic journey with remarkable determination. She earned her bachelor's degree in dance from Silla University. Recognizing the need for systemic change and support for disabled individuals, she pursued further education in social welfare. In 2010, she attained a master's degree in social welfare from Seoul Women's University. Her academic pursuits culminated in 2017 when she received a doctorate in rehabilitation welfare from Korea Nazarene University. This achievement was particularly notable, as it made her the first disabled woman in South Korea with a spinal cord injury to obtain a doctorate, underscoring her commitment to expertise in her chosen field.
2. Personal Life
Choi Hye-young is married to Chung Nak-hyun. Chung Nak-hyun is a former swimmer who also became a quadriplegic following a diving accident. He later transitioned into a career as a wheelchair rugby player and notably earned a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Para Games. The couple married in 2011.
3. Pre-Political Career
Before entering the political arena, Choi Hye-young dedicated her professional life to advocating for disability rights and serving as an educator, striving to improve societal awareness and welfare for disabled individuals.
3.1. Disability Rights Advocacy
Following her accident in 2003, Choi Hye-young decided to become an educator focused on enhancing disability awareness. In October 2009, she established the Korea Education Centre for Disabilities Awareness, where she served as its director until November 2018. Through this organization, she led extensive efforts to promote understanding and rights for disabled individuals. Her commitment to public awareness extended to serving as a public relations model for disability awareness for the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2014. From November 2018 to March 2020, she held the position of Chairperson of the Korea Education Centre for Disabilities Awareness Social Cooperative, further solidifying her role as a key figure in the disability rights movement.
3.2. Educator Career
In addition to her advocacy work, Choi Hye-young was a respected academic. From September 2014 to April 2020, she served as a professor in the Department of Social Welfare and Administration at Gangdong University. In this role, she educated future social welfare professionals, integrating her lived experiences and academic knowledge to foster a deeper understanding of disability issues and effective administrative practices.
4. Political Career
Choi Hye-young's transition into politics marked a significant expansion of her advocacy for social progress and human rights, particularly for marginalized communities.
4.1. Entry into Politics
On December 26, 2019, Choi Hye-young was publicly introduced as the first recruited talent by the Democratic Party of Korea, then the ruling party, under its leader Lee Hae-chan. Her entry into politics was largely motivated by her disillusionment with the opposition Liberty Korea Party's stance, specifically their opposition to the "3 Kindergarten Acts," which she felt demonstrated an unwillingness to champion disabled rights. In an interview with Kim Hyun-jung's News Show on CBS, she explicitly stated that if elected to the National Assembly, she would dedicate her efforts to fighting for both disabled rights and women's rights. For the 2020 South Korean legislative election, the Democratic Party of Korea revealed its proportional representation list on March 14, 2020, with Choi placed at the party's first position. Subsequently, the Democratic Party of Korea formed an electoral alliance with other minor center-left parties, creating the Platform Party. Choi then contested under the Platform Party's banner as the 11th candidate on their list, which effectively positioned her as the first candidate for the Democratic Party members within the alliance. She was ultimately elected as a proportional representative.
4.2. Activities as a Member of the National Assembly
As a Member of the 21st National Assembly from May 30, 2020, to May 29, 2024, Choi Hye-young has been actively involved in legislative work and various parliamentary committees. She served on the Health and Welfare Committee for both the first half (June 2020 - May 2022) and the second half (July 2022 - May 2024) of the 21st National Assembly. Her other committee memberships include the Gender Equality Committee (June 2020 - May 2021), the House Steering Committee (April 2021 - May 2022), and the Special Committee on Media Institution Improvement (November 2021 - December 2021). She also participated in the Special Committee for the Hearing on the Appointment Agreement of Supreme Court Justice Chun Dae-yeop in April 2021. In the latter half of her term, she served on the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts (July 2022 - May 2023), the Special Committee on Population Crisis (February 2023 - May 2024), and the Special Committee on Pension Reform (April 2023 - May 2024). In January 2023, she opened her regional office in Anseong , Gyeonggi Province, signaling her commitment to local constituents.
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4.3. Party Positions and Other Roles
Within the Democratic Party of Korea, Choi Hye-young has held various significant positions. She was a member of the Democratic Party's Organization Strengthening Special Committee from June to August 2020 and served on the COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Situation Room Committee from July to October 2020. From September 2020 to June 2021, she was the Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute. She also served on the Democratic Party's Central Election Management Committee in April 2021. Demonstrating her leadership within the party, she held the role of Deputy Floor Leader twice, from April 2021 to March 2022 and again from May to September 2023. Since May 2021, she has been a member of the Democratic Party's Media Innovation Special Committee. From August 2022 to August 2024, she served as Deputy Speaker of the Democratic Party's National Delegate Convention. Additionally, from September 2023 to April 2024, she was the Democratic Party's Floor Spokesperson. In the context of national elections, she served as the Co-Chair of the Republic of Korea Future Preparation Election Committee for Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign in the 20th presidential election (February 2020 - April 2020). From December 2023 to March 2024, she was a preliminary candidate for the Democratic Party in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, for the 22nd general election.
5. Controversies and Criticism
Throughout her public career, Choi Hye-young has faced some controversies and criticisms.
5.1. Delayed Marriage Registration and Allegations of Undue Benefits
On February 24, 2020, reports surfaced regarding a controversy involving Choi Hye-young's marriage registration. While she and her husband, Chung Nak-hyun, were married in 2011, their marriage was not officially registered until 2019, when it was filed at the Guro District Office. This delay led to allegations that her husband, Chung Nak-hyun, might have unduly received basic living expenses as a single recipient under the basic livelihood security program for approximately eight years prior to the registration. Furthermore, suspicions were raised that he might have received additional support as a "severely disabled single person" from local authorities during this period. Choi Hye-young denied these allegations, asserting that they had not unfairly enjoyed benefits.
5.2. Other Controversies
Choi Hye-young has also been subject to other criticisms. Records indicate that she was previously fined 1.00 M KRW on December 15, 2000, for driving without a driving licence. In November 2020, she proposed an amendment to the Medical Service Act that would prohibit nurse strikes in intensive care units, delivery rooms, and operating rooms. This proposed amendment drew significant opposition from the medical community, who criticized its potential implications for labor rights and medical professionalism.
6. Electoral Results
| Year | Constituency | Political party | Votes (%) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | PR (11th) | Platform Party | 9,307,112 (33.35%) | Elected |