Choi Min-sik

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.

Known For

You Quiz on the Block

Happy End

Oldboy

Exhuma

Lucy

Blue Dragon Series Awards

Notes from the Last Row

Big Bet

All Movies (42)

• Exhuma2024 · as Kim Sang-duk
• In Our Prime2022 · as Ri Hak-sung
• Heaven: To the Land of Happiness2021 · as 203
• Forbidden Dream2019 · as Jang Yeong-sil
• The Battle: Roar to Victory2019 · as Hong Beom-do
• Heart Blackened2017 · as Lim Tae-san
• The Mayor2017 · as Byeon Jong-gu
• Old Days2016 · as Self
• The Tiger2015 · as Man-deok
• The Admiral: Roaring Currents2014 · as Admiral Yi Sun-Shin
• Lucy2014 · as Mr. Jang
• In My End Is My Beginning2013 · as Doctor (voice) (cameo)
• New World2013 · as Kang Hyung-chul
• Ari Ari the Korean Cinema2012 · as Self
• Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen2012 · as (archive footage)
• Nameless Gangster2012 · as Choi Ik-hyun
• Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild2011 · as Wanderer (voice)
• I Saw the Devil2010 · as Kyung-chul
• Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells2009 · as Choi
• The Making of Lady Vengeance2005
• Lady Vengeance2005 · as Mr. Baek
• Crying Fist2005 · as Gang Tae-shik
• Autobiography of Oldboy2004
• Springtime2004 · as Hyeon-woo
• Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War2004 · as North Korean Captain
• Oldboy2003 · as Oh Dae-su
• Chihwaseon2002 · as Jang Seung-up
• Failan2001 · as Kang-jae
• Happy End1999 · as Seo Min-ki
• Shiri1999 · as Park Mu-young
• The Quiet Family1998 · as Chang-goo
• No. 31997 · as Ma Dong-pal
• Mom, the Star, and the Sea Anemone1995
• Sara Is Guilty1993
• May Our Love Stay This Way1992 · as Jun-hyeok
• Our Twisted Hero1992 · as Mr. Kim
• All That Falls Has Wings1990 · as Tae-sik
• Kuro Arirang1989 · as Jin-seok
• On the Way to the Winter1989 · as Gi-dal
• Vapor1988
• The Intern— · as Ki-ho
• Gyosan—

All TV Shows (9)

• Notes from the Last Row2026 · as Heo Mun-oh
• New Old Boy : Dir. Park2025 · as Self
• Sohn's Questions2024 · as Self
• Big Bet2022 · as Cha Mu-sik
• Blue Dragon Series Awards2022 · as Self
• Modern Korea2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• You Quiz on the Block2018 · as Self
• The 4th Republic1995 · as Kim Dae-jung
• The Moon of Seoul1994 · as Park Chun-seob