Choi Min-Sik Biography

Choi Min-sik, the acclaimed South Korean actor, rose to fame with his remarkable performances in Oldboy, I Saw the Devil, and The Admiral. He also starred in the 2014 French film Lucy alongside Scarlett Johansson.

Born in Seoul, South Korea on May 30, 1962, Choi Min-sik was diagnosed with tuberculosis in third grade and told he couldn’t be cured. He recovered his health after a month-long stay in the mountains.

“Choi Min-sik initially gained recognition as a theater actor, and later ventured into the film industry with a breakthrough role in Park Chong-won’s highly regarded movie ‘Our Twisted Hero’ (1997).”

During the mid-1990s, Choi Min-sik appeared in various theater productions and TV dramas, including Moon Over Seoul alongside Han Seok-gyu. He returned to the film industry in 1997, starring as a police investigator in Song Neung-han’s No. 3. However, his breakthrough role came in the critically acclaimed movie Shiri (1999), where he played a North Korean agent, earning him a Best Actor Award at the 1999 Grand Bell Awards.

In 2006, Choi, along with other Korean filmmakers (although not in conjunction with Choi), protested the Korean government’s decision to decrease the Film Quota from 146 to 73 days. These demonstrations took place in Seoul and at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite their efforts, the quota reduction still went into effect. However, it’s worth noting that Korean films continue to dominate the box office, with seven out of the top 10 films being domestically produced, which is consistent with the 2005 figures.

Profile

• Name: Choi Min-sik – 최민식
• Other names:
• Born: April 27, 1962
• Star Sign: Taurus
• Birth Place: Seoul, South Korea
• Blood Type: B
• Height: 5 feet 9¾ inches
• Profession: Actor
• Citizenship: Republic of Korea
• Language: Korean

Education

• Graduates of Drama & Film department of Dongguk University

Family:

• Spouse: Kim Hwal-Ran (m. 1999), Lee Hwayoung (m. 1990–1996)
• Siblings: Guang-il Choi

Filmography of Choi Min-Sik:

• Kuro Arirang (1989)
• Urideurui ilgeureojin yeongung (1992)
• Sara Is Guilty (1993)
• No. 3 (1997)
• The Quiet Family (1998)
• Shiri (1999)
• Happy End (1999)
• Failan (2001)
• Chi-hwa-seon (2002)
• Oldboy (2003)
• Taegukgi (2004) – cameo appearance
• Springtime (2004)
• Crying Fist (2005)
• Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005)
• Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells (2009)
• I Saw the Devil (2010)
• Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild (2011)
• Nameless Gangster (2012)
• Battle of Myeongryang, Whirlwind Sea (2013)
• New World (2013)
• In My End is My Beginning (2013)
• Lucy (2014)
• The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
• The Tiger: An Old Hunter’s Tale (2015)
• The Mayor (2017)
• Heart Blackened (2017)
• The Underdog (2018)