Daughter of SK chairman to serve at naval destroyer

Choi Min-jeong

By Jun Ji-hye

The second daughter of SK Chairman Chey Tae-won has been assigned to serve on the Navy’s 4,400-ton destroyer, Chungmugong Yi Sun-shin, naval officials said Friday.

Commissioned as an ensign on Dec. 1, Choi Min-jeong will complete training necessary to serve on the ship by April 3.

“She will be assigned to the destroyer on April 6,” said an official. “She will assist the vessel’s operations officer.”

Choi was selected randomly by computer as are all naval personnel, he added.

The 23-year-old volunteered for Navy’s Officer Candidate School (OCS) in April last year and passed the physical checkup and interview in July. The OCS yearly picks some 300 applicants, including ten to 20 females

After being accepted into the OCS, she went through a 10-week training course before being commissioned as an ensign, the equivalent to an Army second lieutenant. Her term of service is three years.

Choi joining the Navy attracted huge attention as it is rare for the children of conglomerate owners in Korea to volunteer for military service. She is also a granddaughter of former President Roh Tae-woo.

Choi graduated from Peking University in China, and is known to have lived independently. She supported herself during her university days by working part-time jobs at private academies and restaurants.

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