Chi Hyun Chung (Korean: 정치현,[1][2] pronounced [tɕʌŋ tɕʰi hjʌn]; Spanish: [ˈtʃi ˈ(x)jun ˈtʃuŋɡ]; born 7 March 1970) is a Korean-Bolivian doctor, evangelical pastor and politician. He became notable in the country's media for his statements in favor of the Christian community.[citation needed]
Chung was a candidate for the President of Bolivia for the Christian Democratic Party in the 2019 Bolivian general election, where he came in third place with almost 9% of the vote.[3] He was later the candidate for the Front For Victory in the 2020 Bolivian general election. Due to his conservative ideology, some international news media have described Chung as the "Bolivian Bolsonaro".[4]
Chung is currently a candidate for president in the 2025 Bolivian election.[5]
Early life and education
Chi Hyun Chung was born in the city of Gwangju in South Korea on 7 March 1970. Chung grew up in an evangelical family. In 1976, his family moved to live in Seoul. In 1982, the Korean Presbyterian Church sent the Chung family to Bolivia as evangelical missionaries.
The Chung family initially settled in the city of La Paz, later moving to Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Chung continued his secondary studies, graduating in 1988 from the Bolivian-Brazilian Baptist School. In 1989, Chung moved to Sucre to continue his higher education. That year, he entered the University of Saint Francis Xavier. He graduated in 1995 as a physician by profession. He returned to Santa Cruz de la Sierra to obtain his master's degree in higher education and his master's degree in health and public health management.[6]
Career
Outside of politics, Chung served as director of the UCEBOL clinic, as well as founding 70 Presbyterian churches in Bolivia. Chung is currently the president of the Presbyterian Church in Bolivia. During the 2019 campaign, it was stated that he treats 200,000 patients free of charge via a mobile hospital.[1]
Political career
2019 presidential candidacy
Chung was a candidate in the 2019 Bolivian presidential election as a member of the Christian Democratic Party. His 2019 running mate was the attorney Paola Barriga.[7] During the campaign, he was characterized some international outlets as the "Bolivian Bolsonaro".[4]
As a candidate, he was characterized as a political outsider, and used the slogan "The doctor who will heal Bolivia's wounds".[2] He ultimately came in third place with around 9% of the vote, behind Morales and runner-up candidate Carlos Mesa.[3]
2020 - 2021: Second presidential campaign and gubernatorial contest
Chung later ran for President as the candidate of the Front For Victory in the 2020 Bolivian general election. During the campaign, he filed a legal complaint against fellow candidate Luis Fernando Camacho, accusing Camacho of helping initiate a coup d'etat against Evo Morales.[8]
After losing the 2020 presidential election, he was announced as the Alianza Solidaria y Popular (ASIP)'s candidate for Governor of the Santa Cruz Department.[9] He lost the 2021 Santa Cruz gubernatorial election to Camacho, taking 1.13% of the vote.[10]
2025 presidential candidacy
Chung is currently a candidate for president in the 2025 election, with supporters of his currently working to obtain legal status for the Republican Action Movement Alliance (AMAR) party.[11] Chung announced his candidacy at an event that utilized K-pop music.[12] He publicly invited Luis Fernando Camacho to serve as his vice-presidential running mate.[13]
Opinion polling conducted in February 2025 found him to be in either third or first place, tied with Cochacamba mayor Manfred Reyes Villa, a fellow conservative candidate.[5]
Political views
Chung defines himself as "a Christian capitalist" and considers Evo Morales "a centrist running a communist system". He holds very conservative positions, perceived as misogynistic and homophobic. He is in favour of a curfew for all minors, believes that "a woman should be educated to behave like one". He has attributed the increase in femicides in the country to "abuse by women against men".[14][15]
LGBT rights
Chung has argued that homosexuals should receive psychiatric care to recover their "innate sexual identity".[14] He has claimed that 90% of the LGBT population is involved in prostitution. During the 2020 presidential election, he accused candidate Carlos Mesa and then-incumbent President Jeanine Áñez of promoting "gender ideology".[6]
Views on Evo Morales
In 2019, Chung accused Evo Morales of attempting to create a communist system of governance akin to North Korea.[16] In 2020, he argued that that the removal of Evo Morales as president in 2019 as a coup d'état.[17]
Foreign policy
In 2024, Chung indicated that he wants Bolivia to establish a diplomatic alliance with South Korea, and stated "Under the grace and mercy of God, I will be the president of Bolivia, which will be a great honor and pride for the Korean people".[18]
Chung has pledged to turn Bolivia into a "military power" in South America, and has criticized Chile for alleged encroachments on Bolivian sovereignty.[7]
References
- ^ a b 고미혜 (29 August 2019). 볼리비아 대선에 한인도 도전…"한국 기적을 이곳에도". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b 고미혜 (21 October 2019). 볼리비아 대선, 한국계 후보 정치현 중간집계 '3위' 선전. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b Machicao, Monica; Ramos, Daniel (21 October 2019). "Bolivia's Morales confident of election win despite count suggesting a run-off". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Elecciones en Bolivia: Chi Hyun Chung, el Bolsonaro boliviano que busca destronar a Evo Morales". La Tercera. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ a b Espinoza, Santiago (16 February 2025). "Chi le pide a Manfred que baje su candidatura y sea un 'buen alcalde'". Opinión Bolivia (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Pastor coreano Chi Hyun Chung es el candidato a la presidencia por el PDC". Opinion Bolivia (in Spanish). 15 October 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Chin Hyun Chung se presenta como candidato a la presidencia por el PDC". Bolivia Verifica (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Chi Hyun Chung presenta denuncia penal contra Camacho por "Golpe de Estado" contra Evo Morales". APCBOLIVIA (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Chi es candidato a gobernador cruceño, de la mano de Roberto Fernández". Erbol (in Spanish). 17 December 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "ELECCIÓN JUDICIALES 2024". computo.oep.org.bo. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Chi Hyun Chung planea presentarse con AMAR". El Potosí (in Spanish). 17 January 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Chi Hyun Chung inicia campaña electoral utilizando al K-Pop". La Razón. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Bueno, Boris (30 January 2025). "Chi Hyun Chung invita a Fernando Camacho para ser su candidato a vicepresidente". eju.tv (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Leyes machistas, pena de muerte y tratamiento psiquiátrico para los gays: Las polémicas promesas electorales en Bolivia". Infobae (in Spanish). 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Élections boliviennes : Face à Evo Morales, une opposition déchirée". France 24 (in French). 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Pastor of S. Korean descent to run for president in Bolivia". 동아일보. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ "Chi: Hubo golpe de Estado en 2019 en Bolivia y Camacho 'debería estar en la cárcel'". La Razón. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
- ^ Saravia, Mauricio Diaz (13 February 2025). "Chi dice que será presidente de Bolivia para dignidad del pueblo coreano". La Razón. Retrieved 19 February 2025.