Biography of Choi Min-sik
Choi Min-sik is a South Korean actor, who received critical honour for his prominent roles in ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’, ‘Oldboy‘ and ‘I Saw the Devil‘. He received several awards for his extraordinary role in the South Korean neo-noir action thriller, ‘Oldboy’.
Early Life and Education
Choi Min-sik was born on 27 April 1962 in Seoul, South Korea. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis when he was in the third grade of elementary school. Although the doctors told him that his disease would not be cured, he claims he regained his health after devoting his life to a Buddhist temple for a month.
Min-sik started acting as a research student at a theatre company while he was in his third year at Daeil High School in Seoul. Soon after his high school studies, he enrolled in the Department of Theatre and Film at Dongguk University in 1982. Initially, he dreamed of becoming a director, but eventually changed his career to acting while studying under Professor Ahn Min-soo.
Career
Initial Career Days
In 1982, Choi Min-sik started his career as a theatre actor in the play, ‘Our Town’, after joining the Ppuri Theatre company. He was very much engaged in theatre and spent the majority of his time in the small theatre.
Although Choi Min-sik was offered the role of Alan in ‘Equus’ in 1984, he was forced to hand it over to the actor Choi Jae-seong, as he was drafted for mandatory military enlistment.
While Min-sik was in his fourth year at the university in 1988, his college senior Park Jae-ho gave him an opportunity to audition for Park Jong-won’s early film, ‘Kuro Arirang’, which was released in 1989.
During the same year, he played the role of a law student, alongside Son Chang-min in the youth melodrama, ‘All That Falls Has Wings’. He was back onstage with the role of Alan in the Korean adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s ‘Equus’ after six years in 1990.
In 1992, he appeared in the role of Teacher Kim in Park Jong-won’s second film, ‘Our Twisted Hero’ and received multiple awards.
Breakthrough Roles
Choi Min-sik’s breakthrough roles came after starring alongside Han Suk-kyu in the MBC television drama, ‘The Moon of Seoul’ in 1994. This show pushed Choi Min-sik and Han Suk-kyu to become leading stars.
He suffered an Achilles tendon injury while filming the MBC drama, ‘Their Embrace’ in 1996 and he took a break from acting for a while.
In 1997, he returned to the stage after seven years with the play, ‘Taxi Driver’ co-starring Uhm Jung-hwa, Woo Hyeon-joo, Kwon Seong-deok, Lee Yong-yi, Im Won-hee, Shin Ha-kyun, Jung Jae-young, and Yu In-chon.
During the same year, with Lee Jin-woo, Choi Min-sik took part in the SBS sitcom, ‘Miss & Mister’ in which he was portrayed as a CF Director. Also, he starred alongside Han Suk-kyu in ‘No.3’, and made a dynamic return to the screen, portraying a hot-tempered presecutor Ma Dong-pal.
Moreover, he appeared in the drama, ‘Love and Separation’ with 122 episodes in the role of a divorced man, Kim Chan-ki. In 1998, Choi Min-sik was cast in ‘The Quiet Family’, the debut film of Kim Jee-woon.
The major success of Min-sik was witnessed after his role as a North Korean agent in the film, ‘Shiri’ in 1999. This film earned him a lot of success in his career as well as awards.
Global Recognition
Min-sik starred in Park Chan-wook’s ‘Oldboy‘ in 2003, which propelled his popularity in Korea and abroad. In this film, he co-starred with Yoo Yeon-seok and Kang Hye-jung.
In the next year, he played the role of a trumpet player in the 2004 film, ‘Springtime’ followed by a struggling former boxer role in the 2005 South Korean film, ‘Crying Fist’ and as a child murderer in ‘Sympathy for Lady Vengeance’.
Choi Min-sik returned to films in 2009 with ‘Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells’, in which he co-starred with Tibetan actors. He received critical appreciation for his role as a serial killer in the box office hit action thriller film, ‘I Saw the Devil’ in 2010.
Min-sik played the role of an antihero in the 2012 follow-up ‘Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time’. Next year he appeared in the film, ‘New World’, which was commercially and critically successful.
He made his debut in the English language in 2014 with the film, ‘Lucy’ and then played in the blockbuster epic ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’.
In 2017, he appeared in two films; the crime thriller remake ‘Heart Blackened’ and the political thriller, ‘The Mayor’. He co-acted with Han Suk-kyu in 2019 in the period film, ‘Forbidden Dream’ Written by Jung Bum-shik and Lee Ji-min.
In 2022, Min-sik appeared in the Disney+ series, ‘Big Bet’.
Achievements
Choi Min-sik is a South Korean actor who began his career in 1982 as a theatre actor and has received critical honour for his exceptional roles in films. He also received several awards for his outstanding performances. Here are some of his achievements.
- Min-sik won the Best Actor prize at the 40th Baeksang Art Awards for his role in the 2003 film, ‘Oldboy’.
- Choi Min-sik won the 24th Blue Dragon Awards for his excellent performance in the film, ‘Oldboy’.
- Choi Min-sik, for his role in the film, ‘Oldboy’, received the 41st Grand Bell Awards.
- Min-sik was listed as the Gallup Korea’s Film Actor of the Year in 2014.
- Choi Min-sik’s portrayal as a North Korean agent in the 1999 film, ‘Shiri’ earned him the Best Actor award at the Grand Bell Awards.
Military Life
Choi Min-sik was born on 27 April 1962 and has been active in the entertainment industry since 1982 and was enlisted for his mandatory military service in 1984.
Personal Life
South Korean actor Choi Min-sik married actress Lee Hwa-young in 1990, but they divorced in 1993. After a few years, Min-sik married Kim Hwal-ran in 1999.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Choi Min-sik is a South Korean actor, who has been active in the entertainment industry since 1982 and has earned a lot in his career. His net worth has steadily increased over the years. His estimated net worth as of 2023 is around 7 million US dollars.
Awards
- Seoul International Drama Awards 2023
Golden Bird Prize (Individual) – ‘Big Bet’ (2023)
- 6th Korea Film Actors Association Awards 2017
Top Star Award – ‘Heart Blackened’ (2017)
- 51st Baeksang Arts Awards 2015
Grand Prize (Daesang) (Film) – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2015)
- 10th Max Movie Awards 2015
Best Actor – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2015) - 6th KOFRA Film Awards 2015
Best Actor – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2015)
- 3rd Korea Film Actors Association Awards 2014
Top Star Award – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2014) - 4th SACF Artists of the Year Awards 2014
Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2014) - 51st Grand Bell Awards 2014
Best Actor – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2014) - 34th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2014
Best Actor – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2014) - 2nd Marie Claire Asia Star Awards 2014
Actor of the Year – ‘The Admiral: Roaring Currents’ (2014) - 4th KOFRA Film Awards 2013
Best Actor – ‘Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time’ (2013) - 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards 2012
Best Actor – ‘Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time’ (2012)
- 6th Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2012
Best Actor – ‘Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time’ (2012) - 21st Buil Film Awards 2012
Best Actor – ‘Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time’ (2012) - 13th Director’s Cut Awards 2010
Best Actor – ‘I Saw the Devil’ (2010) - 5th Korea World Youth Film Festival 2005
Favourite Actor – ‘Crying Fist’ (2005)
- 9th Fantasia Festival 2005
Best Actor – Crying Fist (2005)
- 1st University Film Festival of Korea 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – 2004
- 7th Director’s Cut Awards 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004)
- 49th Asia Pacific Film Festival 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004) - 1st Max Movie Awards 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004)
- 24th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004) - 12th Chunsa Film Art Awards 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004) - 41st Grand Bell Awards 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004) - 40th Baeksang Arts Awards 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004) - 24th Blue Dragon Film Awards 2004
Best Actor – ‘Oldboy’ – (2004) - 4th Deauville Asian Film Festival 2002
Best Actor – ‘Failan’ (2002)
- 21st Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2001
Best Actor – ‘Failan’ (2001) - 22nd Blue Dragon Film Awards 2001
Best Actor – ‘Failan’ (2001) - 2nd Busan Film Critics Awards 2001
Best Actor – ‘Failan’ (2001) - 45th Asia Pacific Film Festival 2000
Best Actor – ‘Happy End’ (2000)
- 2nd Director’s Cut Awards 1999
Best Actor – ‘Happy End’ (1999)
- 36th Grand Bell Awards 1999
Best Actor – ‘Shiri’ (1999)
- 22nd Golden Cinematography Awards 1999
Most Popular Actor – ‘Shiri’ (1999)
- 34th DongA Theater Award 1998
Best Actor – ‘Taxi Driver’ (1998)
- 21st Seoul Theater Festival 1997
Best Actor – ‘Taxi Driver’ (1997)
- 38th Asia Pacific Film Festival 1993
Best Supporting Actor – ‘Our Twisted Hero’ (1993) - KBS Drama Awards 1990
Best New Actor – ‘Years of Ambition’ (1990)
Interesting Facts About Choi Min-sik
- Choi Min-sik was diagnosed with tuberculosis when he was in the third grade of elementary school.
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South Korean actor Choi Min-sik loves to enhance historical characters.
- Actress Lee Hwa-young
- Kim Hwal-ran is the current wife of Choi Min-sik.
