[1] Ch'oe Hang spent most of his youth in the Cholla Provinces studying Son Buddhism thought as a monk with his brother Manjong.
He became the Euncheongwangnoktaebu (Grand Guardian of the Palace Guards), Chupiwonambussa (Vice-Director of the Privy Council), Eobupangseochasataebu (Chief Censor and Minister of War), and Taejabingak (Guest of the Crown Prince).
He also concurrently served as the Tongseobuggyeongbyeongsasa (Commander of the Eastern, Western, and Northern Frontier Armies) and Gyeongjeonbyeolgam (Specially Appointed Censor).
Choe Hang was particularly jealous and sent into exile the Chupyonwansa (Privy Council Councillor) Min Heu and the Chupiwonambussa Kim Gyeong-son, who had previously gained popular support.
Shortly after, Hang was promoted to the Head of Security Council, the Ministries of Civil Personnel and Military Affairs.
In the early stages of his rule, he exempted the separate tributes (byeolgong) and fishery taxes (eorangsen-se) from the local areas, and recalled the inspectors of the Gyeongjeontodam (Pacification Council) who had been extorting the people, assigning their duties to the an-chalsa (Inspectors-General), in an effort to gain popular support.
[3] In 1254, he declined the king's order to establish a government office, but later became the Jungseoryeong Gamsuguksa (Director of the Secretariat and National Teacher).