Choi Woo-shik
{{Short description|Canadian actor (born 1990)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Choi|lang=Korean}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Choi Woo-shik
| image = 211227_최우식.png
| image_upright = 1.15
| caption = Choi in December 2021
| other_names = Edward Choi
| birth_name = Choi Woo-shik
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|3|26}}
| birth_place = Seoul, South Korea
| nationality =
| citizenship = Canada
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2011–present
| spouse =
| education = Chung-Ang University (B.A. in Cultural Studies)
| module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto|child=yes|headercolor=transparent
| hangul = %최우식
| hanja = 崔宇植
}}
| signature = Choi Woo-Shik Signature.png
}}
Choi Woo-shik ({{Korean/auto|hangul=최우식|ko_ipa=tɕʰø.u.ɕik̚}}; born March 26, 1990) is a Canadian actor based in South Korea. He first gained recognition for starring in the film Set Me Free (2014) and the television series Hogu's Love (2015) before coming to international prominence for his roles in the films Train to Busan (2016) and Parasite (2019) both of which were critical and commercial successes with the latter winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes and the Academy Award for Best Picture. He has since starred in the television series Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022), A Killer Paradox (2024), and Melo Movie (2025).
Early life and education
Choi was born in Seoul, South Korea, the younger of two sons. He migrated to Vancouver, Canada with his family when he was ten years old where he spent the next ten years of his life.{{cite news|script-title=ko:최우식, 노영학 / My name is 최우식|url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/6162|work=10Asia (Korea Economic Daily)|language=ko|date=March 8, 2011|access-date=March 22, 2018|archive-date=March 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322204738/http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/6162|url-status=live}} He attended high school at Pinetree Secondary School.{{cite web|title=Actor Choi Woo-shik|url=http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2011030916203518038|work=10Asia|last=Lee|first=Ga-on|date=March 9, 2011|access-date=November 18, 2012|archive-date=April 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418134815/http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2011030916203518038|url-status=live}} His English name is Edward Choi and he goes by the nickname Eddie.{{Cite web|title=Choi Woosik at 'Star English' PART4| date=August 16, 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LAH4bMAGQA|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=January 24, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429083452/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LAH4bMAGQA&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}
In 2010, while attending Simon Fraser University, then-20-year-old Choi was given permission by his parents to attend an acting audition in South Korea, subsequently leading to him making his acting debut. Whilst in Korea, Choi enrolled at Chung-Ang University, where he majored in cultural studies, aiming to learn more about Korean culture as he felt he had become somewhat estranged from his heritage having grown up in Canada.
Career
=2011–2015: Beginnings=
Choi made his acting debut in the period drama The Duo in 2011.{{cite web|title=CHOI Woo-sik|url=http://koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/films/index/peopleView.jsp?peopleCd=20174763|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=November 20, 2014|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126235006/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/films/index/peopleView.jsp?peopleCd=20174763|url-status=live}} Supporting roles followed, and Choi was cast in crime drama Special Affairs Team TEN as detective Park Min-ho.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:주상욱-김상호-조안, '특수사건전담반 TEN' 이끈다|url=http://mosen.mt.co.kr/article/G1109305172|website=mosen.mt.co.kr|language=ko|last=OSEN|date=October 12, 2011|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223100250/http://mosen.mt.co.kr/article/G1109305172|url-status=live}} Choi reprised his role when the series was renewed for a second season in 2013.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:최우식, 드라마 'TEN' 시즌 2 주인공으로 출연 확정|url=https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2013012513270388161|website=The Asia Business Daily|language=ko|date=January 25, 2013|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225082929/https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2013012513270388161|url-status=live}} He made his big screen debut that same year, starring as a supporting character in the film Flu and Secretly, Greatly. In the interim, Choi played several characters on television series such as Rooftop Prince, You Are My Destiny and Pride and Prejudice.
File:(빅매치) 제작보고회 말.말.말 영상 최우식.jpg
In 2014, Choi took on his first leading role in the coming-of-age independent film Set Me Free.{{cite web|title=Choi Woo-shik to Take 1st Leading Role in Feature Film|url=http://en.tenasia.com/archives/74582|work=10Asia|date=October 15, 2013|access-date=January 1, 2018|archive-date=January 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101194333/http://en.tenasia.com/archives/74582|url-status=live}} He played the role of Young-jae, a sixteen-year-old student living in a group home, who pretends that he wants to become a priest in order to prolong his stay at the home. The film was well received by critics, and Choi was praised for his portrayal of the protagonist's inner conflict.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:최우식, 부산국제영화제 초청작 '거인'에서 뜨거운 열연|url=https://www.metroseoul.co.kr/article/2014100100081|website=www.metroseoul.co.kr|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223100249/https://www.metroseoul.co.kr/article/2014100100081|url-status=live}} He won several awards for his acting, including Actor of the Year at the Busan International Film Festival.{{cite web|title=Actor CHOI Woo-sik: Dreams to Be a Real Giant in the Film World|url=http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/interview.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=125|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|last=Kim|first=Su-yeon|date=October 30, 2014|access-date=November 20, 2014|archive-date=March 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328030314/http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/interview.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=125|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Indie Film Draws 20,000 Viewers in 2 Weeks|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/11/28/2014112801392.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|date=November 28, 2014|access-date=November 29, 2014|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810222813/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/11/28/2014112801392.html|url-status=live}} Later that year, Choi also starred in the action comedy film Big Match, playing the role of genius hacker Guru.
Choi starred as the titular character in the romantic comedy cable series Hogu's Love. The series began airing on February 9, 2015.{{cite web|title=Uee plays haughty swimming champion in new TV rom-com|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150130000589|website=The Korea Herald|last=Doo|first=Rumy|date=January 30, 2015|access-date=March 5, 2015|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311213211/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150130000589|url-status=live}} Choi also took part in the R-rated Hong Kong-Singaporean film In the Room later that year. The film featured an anthology of characters, set in a single-room brothel at a hotel in Singapore.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:최우식, 싱가포르 영화 '인 더 룸' 주인공 맡아|url=http://sports.khan.co.kr/entertainment/sk_index.html?art_id=201409121331323&sec_id=540401|website=sports.khan.co.kr|language=ko|date=September 12, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2020}}
=2016–2020: Rising fame and international breakthrough=
Choi first gained international recognition with the blockbuster zombie thriller film Train to Busan, where he played the role of high school baseball player, Yong-guk. Premiering at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival on May 13, the film was a critical and commercial success, going on to gross over $93.1 million worldwide.{{Cite web|title=Train to Busan|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2289993217/|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223100246/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2289993217/|url-status=live}} He followed this up with a short, but memorable role as a truck driver in action-adventure film Okja.{{cite web|title=Busan Facetime: Actor Choi Woo-shik Looks to Make a Hollywood Leap|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/busan-facetime-actor-choi-woo-shik-looks-to-make-a-hollywood-leap-1202586767/|work=Variety|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=January 29, 2018|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118212559/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/busan-facetime-actor-choi-woo-shik-looks-to-make-a-hollywood-leap-1202586767/|url-status=live}} This marked his first collaboration with director Bong Joon-ho and featured an international cast, including Tilda Swinton and Paul Dano. Okja was screened in several independent theatres domestically, and released on streaming platform Netflix worldwide.
Choi continued starring in several other films after this, including The Princess and the Matchmaker and Monstrum. In 2018, Choi was cast as a mysterious assassin called the "Nobleman" in the action film The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion.{{cite web|title=PARK Hoon-jung's Upcoming WITCH Cranks Up|url=http://koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?pageIndex=1&blbdComCd=601006&seq=4626&mode=VIEW&returnUrl=&searchKeyword=|work=Korean Film Biz Zone|date=December 29, 2017|access-date=January 1, 2018|archive-date=April 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417212657/http://koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?pageIndex=1&blbdComCd=601006&seq=4626&mode=VIEW&returnUrl=&searchKeyword=|url-status=live}} The dark persona of the Nobleman was a shift from the characters Choi usually played. In a press interview, co-star Park Hee-soon remarked that Nobleman could be Choi's once-in-a-lifetime character.{{cite web|title=Choi Woo-shik is ready to show his dark side : The popular 'Okja' truck driver plays a villain in 'The Witch: Part 1'|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3050000|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=June 30, 2018|access-date=July 2, 2018|archive-date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702204826/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3050000|url-status=live}}
In 2019, Choi reunited with director Bong Joon-ho for the black comedy thriller film Parasite.{{cite web|title=BONG Joon-ho's upcoming movie PARASITE Confirms Cast|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?pageIndex=1&blbdComCd=601006&seq=4687&mode=VIEW&returnUrl=&searchKeyword=|work=Korean Film Biz Zone|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=February 9, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125200203/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?pageIndex=1&blbdComCd=601006&seq=4687&mode=VIEW&returnUrl=&searchKeyword=|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Bong Joon-ho's next film has a cast|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3043679&cloc=joongangdaily%7Chome%7Conline|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=January 24, 2018|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=January 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123222634/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3043679&cloc=joongangdaily%7Chome%7Conline|url-status=live}} Choi played the main character Ki-woo, the son of a poor family, who schemes to become employed by a wealthy family by infiltrating their household and posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. Choi was first approached by Bong after their first collaboration with Okja in 2016, who told the actor to "stay skinny" to play the character.{{Cite web|title=PARASITE Interview: Choi Wooshik on His Second Time Around with Bong Joon-ho|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2019/10/parasite-interview-choi-wooshik-on-his-second-time-around-with-bong-joon-ho.html|website=ScreenAnarchy|date=October 23, 2019|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024165536/https://screenanarchy.com/2019/10/parasite-interview-choi-wooshik-on-his-second-time-around-with-bong-joon-ho.html|url-status=live}} Parasite premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2019, where it became the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or, and was the first film to win with a unanimous vote since Blue Is the Warmest Colour at the 2013 Festival. Among other numerous accolades, Parasite won a leading four awards at the 92nd Academy Awards. It became the first South Korean film to receive Academy Award recognition, as well as the first film in a language other than English to win Best Picture.{{Cite web|title=Oscars: 'Parasite' Makes History as First Foreign-Language Film to Win Best Picture|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-bong-joon-hos-parasite-wins-south-koreas-first-oscar-1277161|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|date=February 9, 2020|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307040603/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-bong-joon-hos-parasite-wins-south-koreas-first-oscar-1277161|url-status=live}} The cast also won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards.{{Cite web|title=SAG Awards: 'Parasite' Wins Top Film Prize; 'Crown' and 'Mrs. Maisel' Named Best Drama, Comedy Series|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-sag-awards-winners-complete-list-1269687|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|date=January 19, 2020|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228051026/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-sag-awards-winners-complete-list-1269687|url-status=live}} In addition to his role as Ki-woo in Parasite, Choi performed the end credits song "Soju One Glass," which made the shortlist for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
= 2021–present: Leading roles =
In December 2021, Choi starred in the SBS drama Our Beloved Summer which was also released on Netflix. It marked his return to the small screen after four years. In 2022, Choi returned to the big screen with the film The Policeman's Lineage which premiered on January 12, 2022.
On April 2023, it was announced that Choi's contract with Management SOOP has expired and signed with Fable Company.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:[공식] 최우식, 매니지먼트 숲과 전속 계약 종료 예정|trans-title=[Official] Choi Woo-shik's exclusive contract with Management Soop will be terminated|url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/entertainment/sk_index.html?art_id=202304281803013&sec_id=540101|publisher=Sports Kyunghyang|language=ko|last=Kim Ha-young|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=April 29, 2023|archive-date=April 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429120736/https://sports.khan.co.kr/entertainment/sk_index.html?art_id=202304281803013&sec_id=540101|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Ho-young |date=April 28, 2023 |script-title=ko:[단독] 최우식, 매니지먼트 숲과 아름다운 이별 후 새 출발 [Exclusive] Choi Woo-shik, New Start After Beautiful Parting with Management Soop |url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/now/article/408/0000187224 |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Naver News}} He starred in Netflix's crime thriller series A Killer Paradox in 2024 which was based on the popular webtoon of the same name.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-14 |title='A very unfortunate curse,' Choi Woo-shik says of his role in Netflix's 'A Killer Paradox' |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-02-14/entertainment/television/A-very-unfortunate-curse-Choi-Wooshik-says-of-his-role-in-Netflixs-A-Killer-Paradox/1980685 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en}} He then starred in the Netflix series Melo Movie in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=Review {{!}} Melo Movie, tender tale of youth with Choi Woo-shik, Park Bo-young |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-drama/k-drama/article/3298460/netflix-k-drama-melo-movie-review-choi-woo-shik-park-bo-young-tender-tale-youth |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=Netflix's 'Melo Movie' to ignite romance for Valentine's Day |url=https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.amp.asp?newsIdx=392106 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=The Korea Times |language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television series=
=Web series=
=Television shows=
=Music video appearances=
Discography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! Album |
| scope="row" | "Some Guys" {{small|(with Jang Ki-yong)}} | 2017 | The Boy Next Door OST |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Soju One Glass"
| 2019 |
| scope="row" | "Poom" {{small|(with Peakboy)}}{{Cite web|script-title=ko:픽보이, 최우식 신곡 지원사격..."작곡X피처링, 우가팸 케미|trans-title=|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=433&aid=0000075909|work=Dispatch|publisher=Naver|language=ko|author=Gu Min-ji|date=July 8, 2021|access-date=July 8, 2021|archive-date=July 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708064119/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=433&aid=0000075909|url-status=live}} | 2021 | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Polaroid" {{small|(With Wooga Squad : Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik, Kim Taehyung, Peakboy)}} | 2022 | In the Soop: Friendcation OST |
Awards and nominations
=Listicles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement ! scope="col" | Publisher ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Listicle ! scope="col" | Placement ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" | Cine21
| 2021 | style="text-align:left" | Actors that will lead Korean Video Content Industry in 2022 | style="text-align:center" |6th{{Efn|mentioned together with Wi Ha-joon, Kim Soo-hyun, Jo Jung-suk, Park Jeong-min, Kim Seon-ho, Ma Dong-seok, Ahn Bo-hyun, Ryu Jun-yeol, Song Kang-ho|group=note}} | style="text-align:center" |{{Cite web|script-title=ko:2022년 주목해야 할 작품과 배우는...한국 영상산업 리더 62명이 꼽았다|url=http://m.cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=99398|website=Cine21|language=ko|date=December 31, 2021|access-date=January 1, 2023|archive-date=December 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231022604/http://m.cine21.com/news/view/?mag_id=99398|url-status=live}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | The Screen
| 2019 | 2009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies | style="text-align:center" |42nd |
Notes
{{Notefoot}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{kmdb person|00156013|Choi Woo-shik}}
- {{IMDb name|6079248|Choi Woo-shik}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Choi Woo-shik
|list =
{{Blue Dragon Film Award Best New Actor}}
{{Busan Film Critics Awards for Best New Actor}}
{{Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for Best New Actor}}
}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Woo-shik}}
Category:21st-century South Korean male actors
Category:JYP Entertainment artists
Category:Chung-Ang University alumni
Category:Male actors from Seoul
Category:South Korean male film actors
Category:South Korean male television actors
Category:South Korean emigrants to Canada
Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada
Category:Canadian male actors of Korean descent
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian male voice actors
Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:Canadian expatriates in South Korea