Han Moo-hyup

Major-General Han Moo-hyup (Alfonso Moohyup Han, born August 22, 1923 in Pyongyang, DPRK) is a retired army general, businessman, and high-level government official of the Republic of Korea. He is currently Honorary President of Korea Esperanto-Asocio, formerly two-star general (major general) of the Republic of Korea Army, and CEO and large sharehoder of Hyundai Insurance and Regent Fire Insurance. Park Chung-hee, former president of South Korea, officiated at Han's wedding as an old friend.

Personal
Han, as a young boy, fled North Korea alone and joined the ROK Army. After Han graduated from the prestigious Korea Military Academy in 1948, he earned a second bachelor's degree in political science and diplomacy from Dankook University (1962). He then pursued graduate study at Hanyang University (1965), Korea National Defense University, and National Defense University in Washington D.C. Han is known to have had close relationship to the former Korean president Park Chung-hee and his family. Han married Kim Yi-jung, and together they have three sons and two daughters.

Military career
As a professional military officer, he served in various key posts, including commander of the 26th Infantry Division, director for intelligence (G-2) of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and commander of Korea Army Training Center. Also, he worked for the Korean CIA (National Intelligence Service) as chief of investigation. Later, he was offered a legislative seat by then ruling New Korea Party, but turned down the offer.

Business career
After his retirement from the ROK Army as major general, Han headed insurance companies for 15 years. He became president and CEO of Dongbang Marine and Fire Insurance (Hyundai Group) and later vice chairman and CEO of Haedong Fire & Marine Insurance (Regent Pacific Group). As a devout Roman Catholic, Han cofounded the Catholic Businessmen's Association of Korea in 1978 and served as deputy president.

Educational career
Han was named chairman of the board of Kumoh Foundation, which owns Kumoh National Institute of Technology and Kumoh Technical High School. He later became chairman of Korea Esperanto-Asocio (KEA) and a member of the University of Suwon board of trustees. He had chaired KEA twice from 1978 to 1981, and from 1991 to 1994.

La Espero
In 1976, Han founded "La Espero el Koreio," a public relations magazine which introduced Korean culture and literature to the world in Esperanto. In total, 123 editions were published before the discontinuance of the magazine in 1994. Han and his publication "La Espero" played a crucial role in the development of Esperanto in Korea. He served as chairman of the organizing committee of the World Congress of Esperanto, and presently he is the only Korean honorary member of the World Esperanto Association (Universala Esperanto-Asocio) and honorary chairman of KEA.

Awards

 * Minister of Finance Award (1978)
 * Golden Chungmu Medal (ROK)
 * Legion of Merit (USA)