Choi Jeong-Sook Educator and Doctor(1902.02.10.~1977.02.22.)

Korea’s first female superintendent and the first superintendent of Jeju Island,
Deputy Governor of the Jeju branch of the Korean Red Cross, etc.
Choi Jeong-Sook was a person who devoted herself to the education and medical community from the time of the Japanese colonial period until her death to promote independence and human rights.

Born in Jeju in 1902, she went to Kyungsung Girls’ High School (now Gyeonggi Girls’ High School) in 1918.
Along with Kang Pyeong-Guk, Ko Soo-Sun, and Choi Eun-Hee, she participated in Gyeongsang Girls’ High School’s Secret Circle to strengthen her anti-Japanese will and prepare for the independence movement plan.
On March 1, 1919, she was part of the secret circle “Girls’ Association”, organized by 79 students from Kyungsung Girls’ High School, participated in the March 1st Movement and was classified as the ringleader and was severely tortured after being arrested.
She was jailed for eight months at Seodaemun Prison in Seoul until she was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of probation for violating the security law.

After being released from prison, she felt the need for women’s education and ethnic education, believing that awakening ignorance was the way to find the country. Along with Kang Pyeong-Guk, she opened a women’s literacy class called “Yeosuwon”(女修園) in Jeju.
She expanded Yeosuwon to Myeongshin School and educated male and female students of various ages for free.

After returning to Seoul for treatment of her body injured by torture, she continues her teaching career at the Sohwa School in Mokpo and Haesung School in Jeonju.
She taught songs called “Warm Spring Wind” and “Sanha of the homeland” to students preparing for the art festival, and was taken to Japan for teaching songs that awaken the national spirit and imprisoned.
“How can it be a sin to teach our students to sing in our language in our country?”
Later, she said that she felt angry at the tyranny of the Japanese Empire in an article about her life.

In 1939, she entered Kyungsung Women’s College of Medicine to help Korean people with the method of treatment.

In 1943, she became a doctor after graduation, and in 1944, she returned to Jeju to open Jeonghwa Clinic.

At that time, Jeju was used as a military base for Japanese imperialism, and there were many Koreans who were forcibly recruited.

Choi Jeong-Sook protected people in her way by disposing of the property inherited from her parents and treating sick Koreans who were forcibly recruited and poor people for free.

Choi Jeong-Sook, a pioneer who wanted to save the country and people through education and medical care, now become the 21st century Choi Jeong-Sook and complete Korea that she dreamed of!