Choi Dae-hoon

Choi Dae-hoon (; Born November 16, 1980) is a South Korean actor known for his roles in the dramas ''Beyond Evil'' (2021) and ''When Life Gives You Tangerines'' (2025). He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor – Television at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards for ''Beyond Evil'' and won the same award at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards for ''When Life Gives You Tangerines''.

Career

Beginnings

Choi graduated from the Department of Theatre at Chung-Ang University. He made his screen debut in 2002 with the short film ''In The Jungle (Javan Mackerel),'' which was screened in Jeonju International Film Festival. Following his debut, he focused primarily on theater and musicals.

In 2007, Choi made his television debut in the KBS2 drama '. He subsequently appeared in several KBS Drama Special.

In 2013, he gained recognition for his roles in popular dramas such as ''Bridal Mask'' and ''Big.'' He then played a lead role in the tvN drama '' Crazy Love'' and appeared in supporting roles in '' The Queen of Office'' and the film ''The Terror Live''. In 2014, his notable dramas included ''KBS Drama Special Season 5 - I'm Dying Soon'', ''You're Only Mine'', ''Hotel King'', and ''Mom's Choice''.

In 2015, Choi starred in the SBS daily drama ''The Return of Hwang Geum-bok'' and gained significant popularity for his role as Jo Mal-saeng in the historical drama ''Six Flying Dragons''. His character made a memorable entrance in episode 35, helping key figures escape from danger.

In 2016, Choi signed an exclusive contract with Cube Entertainment.

In 2017, he portrayed the elite prosecutor Kim Yoon-soo in the SBS drama Oh, the Mysterious, earning praise for his emotional depth and strong characterization.

Breakthrough and critical acclaim

On May 10, 2018, Choi signed an exclusive contract with Star Camp 202. He made his appearance in the first episode of the tvN drama ''Lawless Lawyer'' as Seok Gwan-dong, the leader of the East Crown gang in Seoul, known for his unconventional approach to justice. In July 2018, he confirmed his role in the SBS drama ''Heart Surgeons,'' playing Gu Dong-jun, a character praised for his blend of maturity and charm. Choi also effectively conveyed the character's serious and knowledgeable traits as he developed into a real doctor. His performance was noted for its humor and depth, leading to a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2018 SBS Drama Awards. Choi also returned to the stage that July, portraying Lenny in John Steinbeck's play ''Of Mice and Men''. In August, He also made special appearance in television drama ''Are You Human?''

In 2019, after signing with Ace Factory in March, he appeared in several dramas, including ''Confession'', ''Nokdu Flower'', ''Everything And Nothing'', ''At Eighteen'', and ''KBS Drama Special - Hidden''. He reprised his role as Lenny in John Steinbeck's play ''Of Mice and Men'' and received a standing ovation for his performance. At the end of 2019, Choi was cast in Park Ji-eun's drama ''Crash Landing on You'' as Yoon Se-jun, the eldest brother of Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin). Despite being the eldest son of a chaebol, he was portrayed as somewhat foolish and sloppy, contrary to his ambitions. Choi expressed the character's personality with a light attitude and quick dialogue.

Choi's versatility as an actor was highlighted in 2020 with his portrayal of Lee Woo-cheol, the composed leader in tvN's '' Flower of Evil''. That year, he also appeared in ''Extracurricular'', ''Mystic Pop-up Bar'', and ''Do You Like Brahms?''.

In 2021, Choi reunited with Director Shim Na-yeon aftern ''At Eighteen'' for the drama ''Beyond Evil''. He played Park Jeong-je, a police officer in the Munju Police Station's investigation support team, a close friend to Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) and the son of Munju City Councilor Do Hae-won (Gil Hae-yeon). His nuanced performance, which captured the character's multifaceted nature, earned him the moniker "new acting monster" and a nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Television at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards.

In 2022, Choi took on various roles, including Jang Seung-jun in ''Extraordinary Attorney Woo'', Chun Sang-woo in ''Model Detective 2'', Noh Seung-hwan in ''Insider,'' and a cameo as a sleep clinic doctor in Park Chan-wook's film ''Decision to Leave''. He also appeared as Seo Min-hyeok in ''One Dollar Lawyer,'' prosecutor from a prominent legal family who aims to marry his longtime love, Baek Ma-ri, and expand her family's law firm into "Baek & Seo." Seo, while professionally competent, is depicted as a somewhat impetuous and privileged figure who relies heavily on his father's advice, initially leading viewers to suspect him of being antagonistic towards his former colleague, Cheon Ji-hoon.

In 2025, Choi starred in the Netflix series ''When Life Gives You Tangerines'', directed by Kim Won-seok and written by Lim Sang-choon. His portrayal of the antagonist Bu Sang-gil was well-received, popularizing the catchphrase "Hak-ssi" and earning him the nickname "Mr. Hak-ssi." This performance garnered critical acclaim, resulting in his second nomination and subsequent win for Best Supporting Actor – Television at 61st Baeksang Arts Awards.

Personal life

Choi and actress were married on April 10, 2015, at a chapel in Gangnam, Seoul. They initially met on the set of the 2013 tvN drama '' Crazy Love'', and their relationship progressed from there. In February 2017, news reported that they have a daughter born in 2016.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Web series

Stage

Musical concert

Musical play

Theater

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Dae-Hoon
1980 births
Living people
Chung-Ang University alumni
21st-century South Korean people
20th-century South Korean people
South Korean male actors
South Korean male film actors
South Korean male musical theatre actors
South Korean male stage actors
South Korean male television actors