HanChul Choi, M.D.

Choi Han Chul is the 85 year old patriarch of a Korean-American family of physicians and Christian church workers.  Born in 1925 in northern Korea, he survived the draconian reign of the Japanese Empire during the first half of the twentieth century.  Only a few years after Korea’s liberation at the end of World War II – just as he was beginning his family and medical career – he was forced to endure the tragedies of The Korean War.  Nevertheless, he managed to build a career as a surgeon, family practice physician and hospital administrator.

Dr. Choi spent several years in America in the 1950s doing graduate studies at The University of Pennsylvania, an internship in Louisville, Kentucky and a residency in Chicago.  After this extended visit, he decided to adopt the United States as his home.  In the 1970s Dr. Choi led his entire family to America as a part of the Asian wave of immigration in the second half of the 20th Century.  He and his wife, Mrs. Kim KyungOk, raised five children each of whom became medical doctors like their father.  He served the state of Indiana for twenty years as the State Reformatory Medical Director before retiring in 1991 to Tampa, Florida.

During his retirement he wrote his memoir entitled “To My Descendents” at the urging of his family.  His story is the story of war, patriotism, familial love, hard work, persistence, optimism, fervent prayer and above all of faith in God.

In these pages you will find excerpts from Dr. Choi’s autobiography entitled, “To My Descendents.”  He wrote his story to inform his five children and thirteen grandchildren about their heritage and to testify to the works of God in his life.

You will also find links and other online resources to help you learn more about Korean Geography, History and Culture.  For those who are interested in writing personal histories there is a brief section on how to get started writing and editing.  Finally there are many links to articles, sites and tools to help understand Korea and Korean-Americans.