Choi Min-sik
Born: 1962-01-22 in Seoul, South Korea
Known For: Acting
Biography
Choi Min-sik (born May 30, 1962), is a South Korean actor. Known for his intense and transformative performances, he first gained recognition with the television series The Moon of Seoul (1994). His film breakthrough came with Shiri (1999), which established Choi as a leading actor. However, it was his role in Oldboy (2003) that cemented his status as one of South Korea's greatest actors. His performance was critically acclaimed and won him Best Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards, the Blue Dragon Film Awards, and the Grand Bell Awards. Choi continued to star in high-profile films such as Lady Vengeance (2005), I Saw the Devil (2010), Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012), New World (2013), and The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014), which became the highest-grossing film in South Korea. For his performance in the latter, Choi won the Grand Prize at the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2014, Choi came to prominence in Hollywood with his role in Lucy (2014). He was also listed as Gallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year. Following this, he remained active in Korean cinema with works such as Forbidden Dream (2019) and Exhuma (2024). Choi also made his return to television with Big Bet (2022), his first drama series in over two decades.
Filmography
2026
- Notes from the Last Row as Heo Mun-oh
2025
- New Old Boy : Dir. Park as Self
2024
- Exhuma as Kim Sang-duk
- Sohn's Questions as Self
2022
- Big Bet as Cha Mu-sik
- Blue Dragon Series Awards as Self
- In Our Prime as Ri Hak-sung
2021
2019
- Modern Korea as Self (archive footage)
- Forbidden Dream as Jang Yeong-sil
- The Battle: Roar to Victory as Hong Beom-do
2018
- You Quiz on the Block as Self
2017
- The Mayor as Byeon Jong-gu
- Heart Blackened as Lim Tae-san
2016
- Old Days as Self
2015
- The Tiger as Man-deok
2014
- Lucy as Mr. Jang
- The Admiral: Roaring Currents as Admiral Yi Sun-Shin
2013
- New World as Kang Hyung-chul
- In My End Is My Beginning as Doctor (voice) (cameo)
2012
- Nameless Gangster as Choi Ik-hyun
- Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)
- Ari Ari the Korean Cinema as Self
2011
- Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild as Wanderer (voice)
2010
- I Saw the Devil as Kyung-chul
2009
- Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells as Choi
2005
- Lady Vengeance as Mr. Baek
- Crying Fist as Gang Tae-shik
- The Making of Lady Vengeance
2004
- Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War as North Korean Captain
- Springtime as Hyeon-woo
- Autobiography of Oldboy
2003
- Oldboy as Oh Dae-su
2002
- Chihwaseon as Jang Seung-up
2001
- Failan as Kang-jae
1998
- The Quiet Family as Chang-goo
1997
- No. 3 as Ma Dong-pal
1995
- The 4th Republic as Kim Dae-jung
- Mom, the Star, and the Sea Anemone
1994
- The Moon of Seoul as Park Chun-seob
1993
1992
- Our Twisted Hero as Mr. Kim
- May Our Love Stay This Way as Jun-hyeok
1990
- All That Falls Has Wings as Tae-sik
1989
- Kuro Arirang as Jin-seok
- On the Way to the Winter as Gi-dal