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Choi Min-sik

Choi Min-sik

Born: 1962-01-22 • Seoul, South Korea

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
Exhuma poster
Exhuma
2024 • Kim Sang-duk
In Our Prime poster
In Our Prime
2022 • Ri Hak-sung
Heaven: To the Land of Happiness poster
Heaven: To the Land of Happiness
2021 • 203
Forbidden Dream poster
Forbidden Dream
2019 • Jang Yeong-sil
The Battle: Roar to Victory poster
The Battle: Roar to Victory
2019 • Hong Beom-do
Heart Blackened poster
Heart Blackened
2017 • Lim Tae-san
The Mayor poster
The Mayor
2017 • Byeon Jong-gu
Old Days poster
Old Days
2016 • Self
The Tiger poster
The Tiger
2015 • Man-deok
The Admiral: Roaring Currents poster
The Admiral: Roaring Currents
2014 • Admiral Yi Sun-Shin
Lucy poster
Lucy
2014 • Mr. Jang
In My End Is My Beginning poster
In My End Is My Beginning
2013 • Doctor (voice) (cameo)
New World poster
New World
2013 • Kang Hyung-chul
Ari Ari the Korean Cinema poster
Ari Ari the Korean Cinema
2012 • Self
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen poster
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
2012 • (archive footage)
Nameless Gangster poster
Nameless Gangster
2012 • Choi Ik-hyun
Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild poster
Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild
2011 • Wanderer (voice)
I Saw the Devil poster
I Saw the Devil
2010 • Kyung-chul
Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells poster
Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells
2009 • Choi
The Making of Lady Vengeance poster
The Making of Lady Vengeance
2005
Lady Vengeance poster
Lady Vengeance
2005 • Mr. Baek
Crying Fist poster
Crying Fist
2005 • Gang Tae-shik
Autobiography of Oldboy poster
Autobiography of Oldboy
2004
Springtime poster
Springtime
2004 • Hyeon-woo
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War poster
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War
2004 • North Korean Captain
Oldboy poster
Oldboy
2003 • Oh Dae-su
Chihwaseon poster
Chihwaseon
2002 • Jang Seung-up
Failan poster
Failan
2001 • Kang-jae
Happy End poster
Happy End
1999 • Seo Min-ki
Shiri poster
Shiri
1999 • Park Mu-young
The Quiet Family poster
The Quiet Family
1998 • Chang-goo
No. 3 poster
No. 3
1997 • Ma Dong-pal
Mom, the Star, and the Sea Anemone poster
Mom, the Star, and the Sea Anemone
1995
Sara Is Guilty poster
Sara Is Guilty
1993
May Our Love Stay This Way poster
May Our Love Stay This Way
1992 • Jun-hyeok
Our Twisted Hero poster
Our Twisted Hero
1992 • Mr. Kim
All That Falls Has Wings poster
All That Falls Has Wings
1990 • Tae-sik
Kuro Arirang poster
Kuro Arirang
1989 • Jin-seok
No Image
On the Way to the Winter
1989 • Gi-dal
No Image
Vapor
1988
No Image
The Intern
— • Ki-ho
No Image
Gyosan