Choi Min-soo

In this Korean name, the family name is Choi .

Choi Min-soo
Born	(1962-03-27) March 27, 1962 (age 61) Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea [1]
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1985–present
Spouse	June Elizabeth Kang ​ (m. 1994)​
Children	2
Korean name
Hangul	최민수
Hanja	崔 民 秀
Revised Romanization	Choe Min-su
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Minsu

Choi Min-soo (born March 27, 1962) is a South Korean actor. He is known as one of the most acclaimed actors in South Korea.

Life and career

Choi's family has been active in acting, and singing. Choi is the son of Choi Moo-ryong, a popular actor of the 1960s and 1970s, and Kang Hyo-shil, an actress. His maternal grandmother is Jeon Ok, referred to as 'Queen of Tears' for her excellence at acting for tragic dramas. His grandfather is Kang Hong-shik, an actor, a film director and singer active during the Japanese occupation period. Kang Hong-sik and Jeon Ok were the first married couple in Korean entertainment history. Kang went over to North Korea along with his daughter Kang Hyo-son who later became a famous actress of North Korea. Kang Hong-shik was honored as "Merited artist" as well. ^[2]

Choi graduated from Lila Elementary School, Seongdong Middle School, Dongbuk High School and Seoul Arts College. Choi debuted to the film industry in 1985 with Son of God , a film adapted from Park Bong-seong's same titled manhwa. ^{[3] [4]}

Choi has three sisters and one half sister from his father's second marriage with Kim Ji-mee, and one little half brother and half sister from his father's other marriage. ^[5]

Choi met his wife June Elizabeth Kang from an international Miss Korea Beauty Pageant in 1993 where Kang was being represented as Miss Canada. Choi proposed to Kang after a three-hour meeting and they were married June 18, 1994 in Seoul. They have two children, Christian (born 1996) and Benjamin (born 2001). ^{[6] [7]}

Controversies

Choi took a voluntary leave from acting following a scandal in 2008. He was involved in an assault case in April 2008 after a street-side argument ended in violence. An elderly man saw Choi cursing at another driver and rebuked him. The situation escalated and Choi assaulted the man. The actor attempted to drive away, but the man grabbed onto the hood of the car and refused to let go. Choi was let go by police when the victim declined to press charges, but the public reaction was swift and condemning. The actor apologized profusely for his behavior and swore to live in exile in the mountains, away from his wife and children, for a year. ^{[8] [9]}

In 2015, Choi punched the main production director of the KBS variety show, A Look At Myself. Choi later withdrew from the program. ^{[10] [11]}

In 2019, Choi was sentenced to two years probation for retaliatory driving due to an incident which took place on September 17, 2018. ^[12] Both Choi and the prosecution have appealed the sentence. ^[13]

Filmography

Film

*Note; the whole list is referenced. ^[14]

Feature film appearancesFeature film appearances

Year	Title		Role	Ref.
	English	Korean
1985	Eye	눈		short film
1986	Son of God	신의 아들	Choi Kang-ta
1988	Last Dance with Her	그녀와의 마지막 춤을	Oh Hye-suk
	That Last Winter	그 마지막 겨울	In-tae
1990	North Korean Partisan in South Korea	남부군	Kim Young
	Man Market	남자시장	Yong-chun
	Winter Dreams Do Not Fly	겨울 꿈은 날지 않는다	Shin Gil-woo
1991	For Agnes	아그네스를 위하여	Hwang Mi-ho
1992	The Marriage Life	결혼이야기	Kim Tae-gyu
	Mister Mama	미스터 맘마	Hyung-jun
1993	On a Windy Day We Must Go to Apgujeong	바람부는 날이면 압구정동에 가야한다	Cho Hyun-jae
	Honeymoon	밀월여행	Sung-hun
	A Different Kind of Man	가슴달린 남자	Choi Hyung-jun
1994	Life and Death of the Hollywood Kid	헐리우드 키드의 생애	Im Byung-suk
	I Wish for What Is Forbidden to Me	나는 소망한다 내게 금지된 것을
	Blue Seagull	블루 시걸	Ha-il	voice
1995	A Good Day to Fall in Love	사랑하기 좋은 날	Hyung-jun	also planner
	The Terrorist	테러리스트	Soo-hyun
	My Old Sweetheart	아찌,아빠	Young-soo
	Rehearsal	리허설	Min-soo
1996	Come to Me	나에게 오라	Jung-suk
	Piano Man	피아노 맨	Piano Man
1997	Inch'Alla	인샬라	Han Seung-yub
	Story of a Man	남자 이야기	Bong-man
	Blackjack	블랙잭	Oh Sae-geun
	A Killing Story	죽이는 이야기	Gae-nun	cameo
1999	Phantom, The Submarine	유령	202/Captain
2000	Love Bakery	주노명 베이커리	Joo No-myung
	Libera Me	리베라 메	Cho Sang-woo
2001	My Wife Is a Gangster	조폭 마누라	Man with Knife	cameo
2002	Seoul	서울 / ソウル	Kim Yoon-chul	Japanese film
	Yesterday	예스터데이	Goliath
2003	Sword in the Moon	청풍명월	Ji-hwan
2005	The Myth	신화 - 진시황릉의 비밀 / 神話 [15]	General Choi	Hong Kong film
	Holiday	홀리데이	Kim An-suk
2006	My Wife Is a Gangster 3	조폭마누라 3	Sashimi	cameo
2011	Assassins' Code (aka Serpent Rising)	어쌔신 코드	Karl Kim	American film
2014	How to Steal a Dog	개를 훔치는 완벽한 방법	Dae-po
2023	Ung-nam-i	웅남이	Lee Jeong-sik	documentary film [16]

Television

Television drama appearances Television drama appearances

Year	Title		Role	Ref.
	English	Korean
1987		꼬치미
1991	Best Theater: Moon	베스트극장 - 달
	Humble Men	고개숙인 남자	In-soo
	A Mob House	무동이네 집	Lee Soo-hyun
	What is Love	사랑이 뭐길래	Lee Dae-pal
1993	My Mother's Sea	엄마의 바다	Lee Dong-jae
	Walking Up to Heaven	걸어서 하늘까지	물새 Jung-ho
1995	Sandglass	모래시계	Park Tae-soo
1998	White Nights 3.98	백야 3.98	Kwon Taek-hyeong
2000	Legends of Love	사랑의 전설	Min-suk
2003	South of the Sun	태양의 남쪽	Kang Sung-jae
2004	Han River Ballad	한강수타령	Shin Ryul
2007	The Legend	태왕사신기	Daejangro
2009	Father's House	아버지의 집	Kang Man-ho
2010	Road No. 1	로드 넘버원	Yoon Sam-soo
2011	Warrior Baek Dong-soo	무사 백동수	Chun
2012	Happy Ending	해피엔딩	Kim Doo-soo
	Faith	신의	Moon Chi-hoo	cameo
	Do You Know Taekwondo?	태권, 도를 아십니까?	Do-hyeon's father	TV film
2013	The Blade and Petal	칼과 꽃	Yeon Gaesomun
2014	Pride and Prejudice	오만과 편견	Moon Hee-man
2016	The Royal Gambler	대박	King Sukjong of Joseon
2017	The Liar and His Lover	그녀는 거짓말을 너무 사랑해	Kang In-woo
	Man Who Dies to Live	죽어야 사는 남자	Saeed Fahd Ali/Jang Dal-goo
2018	Lawless Lawyer	무법 변호사	Ahn Oh-joo	[17]
2020	Extracurricular	인간수업	Lee Whang-chul	[18]
2023	Numbers	넘버스: 빌딩숲의 감시자들	Han Je-gyun	[19]

Ambassador

• Busan Metropolitan City Honorary Firefighter
• E2B PR Manager
• Public Relations Ambassador of the National Promotion Committee for the Goguryeo History Museum
• Public Relations Ambassador of Korean Kendo Association
• Ministry of Environment 2nd Environmental PR Delegation

Awards

*Note; the whole list is referenced. ^[4]

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
1987	11th Golden Cinematography Awards	Best New Actor	Long Journey & Tunnel	Won
1989	25th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Film Actor	Last Dance with Her	Won
1990	11th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	North Korean Partisan in South Korea	Won
1991	12th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Popular Star Award	Choi Min-soo	Won
1992	13th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Popular Star Award		Won
1992	28th Baeksang Arts Awards	Most Popular TV Actor	What Is Love	Won
1992	MBC Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actor		Won
1993	29th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best TV Actor	Walking Up to Heaven	Won
1993	31st Grand Bell Awards	Most Popular Actor	Choi Min-soo	Won
1993	14th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Popular Star Award		Won
1995	31st Baeksang Arts Awards	Best TV Actor	Sandglass	Won
1995	SBS Drama Awards	Grand Prize/Daesang		Won
1995	22nd Korea Broadcasting Awards	Best TV Actor		Won
1995	16th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Actor, Popular Star Award	Terrorist	Won
1996	34th Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor		Won
1996	19th Golden Cinematography Awards	Most Popular Actor	Choi Min-soo	Won
2000	SBS Drama Awards	Big Star Award	Legends of Love	Won
2000	37th Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor	Phantom: the Submarine	Won
2001	37th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best Film Actor	Libera Me	Won
2004	MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actor	Han River Ballad	Won
2007	MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actor	The Legend	Nominated
		Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Historical Drama		Won
		Popularity Award, Actor		Nominated
2014	MBC Drama Awards	Golden Acting Award, Actor	Pride and Prejudice	Won
2023	MBC Drama Awards	Best Character Award	Numbers	Nominated

References

1. "최민수". Cinefox (씨네폭스) (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-12-30.
2. Lee, Geun-tae (이근태) 무성 영화 배우 가수 강홍식 (in Korean) Gayo 114
3. 최민수 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Daum Movie
4. 최민수 [Choi Min-soo] (in Korean). Korean Movie Database (KMDb). Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
5. 스크린을 누비던 원로 영화 배우 최무룡 세상 떠나던 날 Archived 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine (quote) 임종의 자리에 함께 있었던 사람은 미망인 차금자씨(55)와 자녀인 최정우·진경씨였다고....상주는 7명이었다. 최민수, 최정우, 최현숙, 최예숙, 최진경, 박종화, 최영숙(밍크).
6. Oh, Young-jin (12 October 2009). "Kang Makes Smooth Transition". The Korea Times . Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
7. Oh, Jean (2 February 2009). "Choi Min-soo's wife to host new show". The Korea Herald . Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
8. Kim, Rahn (25 April 2008). "Assault Allegations Cloud Actor Chois Hollywood Dream". The Korea Times . Archived from the original on 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
9. Oh, Jean (25 December 2009). "Choi Min-soo returns to small screen". The Korea Herald . Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
10. Kim, Dong-Joo (20 August 2015). "Choi Min Soo assaults the production director of 'Look Back At Myself'". sg.entertainment.yahoo.com. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
11. ddangha (August 24, 2015). "Choi Min Soo Steps Down From "A Look at Myself"". Soompi . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
12. Nam, S. (September 5, 2019). "Choi Min Soo Receives Suspended Sentence For Retaliatory Driving". Soompi . Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
13. Kim, D.S. (September 12, 2019). "Choi Min Soo And Prosecution Appeal Sentence In Actor's Retaliatory Driving Case". Soompi . Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
14. "Cast and Crew DB >Choi Min-soo >Filmographies". Korean Movie Database (KMDb). Archived from the original on 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
15. 신화 - 진시황릉의 비밀 (2005) Archived 2021-03-30 at the Wayback Machine KMDb
16. Bae Hyo-joo (November 3, 2021). "박성광 연출 '웅남이' 박성웅X최민수X오달수 출연‥코믹 액션 누아르[공식]" [Directed by Park Seong-gwang 'Ungnami' Starring Park Seong-woong X Choi Min-soo X Oh Dal-soo...Comic Action Noir [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021– via Naver.
17. [공식] 이혜영·최민수 '무법변호사' 캐스팅…'쌍방 카리스마' 예고. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). March 16, 2018. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
18. Kang, Minji (April 22, 2019). "NETFLIX ANNOUNCES TEENAGE CRIME DRAMA EXTRACURRICULAR". Netflix Media. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
19. Kim Ji-hye (February 16, 2023). "최민수X연우, MBC '넘버스' 캐스팅 확정..화려한 라인업[공식]" [Choi Min-soo X Yeon-woo, MBC 'Numbers' cast confirmed... Gorgeous lineup [Official]] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023– via Naver.

External links

• Choi Min-soo at the Korean Movie Database
• Choi Min-soo at IMDb