13 Facts About Choung Byoung-gug

Choung Byoung-gug is a South Korean politician and the former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Choung Byoung-gug was the leader of the centre-right Bareunmirae Party, and Chairman of the Special Committee on the 4th Industrial Revolution of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.

Choung Byoung-gug initially attended Gaegun Elementary School before transferring to Jeongdeok Elementary School in Seoul against his father's will of making him stay in Yangpyeong.

Choung Byoung-gug was wanted by the police for this reason and while he was evading the authorities in 1979, he received the news of the assassination of President Park Chung-hee, to which he responded by returning to Seoul and heading the student movement to restore the National Student Council that had been dissolved under Park's dictatorship.

Choung Byoung-gug chose conscription and volunteered for the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.

Choung Byoung-gug was arrested in June 1987 and was sentenced to eighteen months in prison.

Choung Byoung-gug worked for Kim Young-sam's campaign as the Director of Public Affairs in the 1987 South Korean presidential election.

Choung Byoung-gug graduated from Yonsei University's Graduate School of Public Administration in 1998.

Choung Byoung-gug won in the 2000 South Korean General Election for the Grand National Party and was re-elected in 2004.

Choung Byoung-gug headed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism following his appointment as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism by President Lee Myung-bak in January 2011.

Choung Byoung-gug was elected for the fourth time in 2012 and was elected again for his fifth term in March 2016.

Choung Byoung-gug was one of the few Saenuri incumbents to avoid defeat in the party's disastrous performance in the said election.

Choung Byoung-gug is currently serving as Member of Parliament for the Yangpyeong and Yeoju district.