Choi Sunghwan is a historian specializing in Korea's local history. He is a professor of history at Mokpo National University and a management committee member of the Institution for Marine & Island Cultures. Choi is involved in numerous research projects on communication and cultural exchange on islands, and he has published papers about political exiles. Choi is the author of Mokpo, Research on Moon Sundeuk's Travel, "Jeong Yakjeon's Exile in Heuksan Island," and "The Trend and Lifestyle of Political Exiles in Chuja Island in the Late-Chosun Dynasty."