Following Kim, Lee, and Park, Choi is the fourth most common surname in South Korea, making up about 4.7% of the population.

The Hanja (Chinese character) for Choi (崔) is deeply symbolic. It combines the character for mountain (山) and bird (隹), literally translating to 'a bird living on a high mountain' or 'towering high and grandly.'

True to its meaning, many historical figures bearing the Choi surname reached the highest peaks in academia, philosophy, and military strategy.

The Choi family boasts a very long history and is divided into numerous clans (Bon-gwan), the most famous being the Gyeongju, Jeonju, and Haeju Choi clans.

The oldest, the Gyeongju Choi clan, traces its lineage back to the founding myths of the ancient Silla Kingdom. Its most glorious figure is Choe Chi-won, the foremost genius scholar of Silla. He traveled to the Tang Dynasty (China) at age 12 and passed their civil service exam with top honors.

The Haeju clan produced Choe Chung, known as the 'Confucius of Korea', further establishing the Choi name as synonymous with fierce intellect.

There is a famous Korean saying: 'Choi stubbornness is like a bull; it cannot be broken.' While often used playfully today to describe someone who is inflexible, historically, it meant something much deeper: 'unwavering conviction and integrity that does not compromise with injustice.'

A prime example is General Choe Yeong of the late Goryeo Dynasty. He lived his entire life by his father's final words: 'View gold as if it were mere rocks.' He defended his country without ever becoming corrupt, never bending his beliefs even when facing execution. That is the true spirit of Choi.

Another legendary example of Choi stubbornness used for good is the 'Rich Choi Family of Gyeongju'. This incredible family maintained massive wealth for 300 years across 12 generations.

How did they survive so long without losing their wealth to war or revolution? They followed strict family rules: 'Let no one starve within 100-li (around 40km) of our house' and 'Never accumulate wealth beyond a certain limit; give the rest back to society.'

Their stubborn adherence to sharing wealth and helping others makes them a globally respected model of Noblesse Oblige.

Today, the Choi family continues to impact the global stage, especially in entertainment and sports.

Famous Chois include the legendary actor Choi Min-sik (Oldboy), alongside top global K-Pop stars such as TXT's Soobin and Yeonjun (Choi Soo-bin, Choi Yeon-jun), SHINee's Minho, and SEVENTEEN's S.Coups (Choi Seung-cheol).

Did your ancestors come from the line of a genius scholar or a brave general? To know this, Koreans look at their 'Bon-gwan'.