Choi Dae-hoon (; Born November 16, 1980) is a South Korean actor known for his roles in the dramas Beyond Evil (2021), When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025), and Agent Kim Reactivated (2026). 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 after 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 married on April 10, 2015, at a chapel in Gangnam, Seoul. The couple met on the set of the 2013 tvN drama Crazy Love. In February 2017, it was reported that they have a ten month old daughter born in 2016.
Filmography Film
+ Year Title Role Notes 2002 In the Jungle Jae-gu Short film/debut 2004 Pitcher Recruitment Applicant 8 2006 Forbidden Floor Brown rice boyfriend bit Metaphor about butterflies detective Short film · Lead role 2013 The Terror Live Park Jeong-min Investigation Team 1 2017 Lucid Dream Detective Kim 2022 Decision to Leave sleep clinic doctor
Television series + Year Title Role Notes 2007 Adidas 2010 KBS Drama Special - The Great Gye Chun-bin Jongsoo KBS Drama Special - An Awful Lot of Coincidences Jo Dae-ri 2011 Wise friend KBS Drama Special - Young-deok Women's Wrestling Team Manager KBS Drama Special - Strawberry Ice Cream Sangbaek KBS Drama Special - Behind the Scenes of the Seokyeong Sports Council Reform Swimming coach 2012 Korean Peninsula Chae Dong-hoon Bridal Mask Lee Hae-seok 2013 Big Seo Yoon-jae's fellow doctor Crazy Love Baek Jae-hyuk The Queen of Office Junseok 2014 KBS Drama Special - I'm Dying Soon Multi You're Only Mine Kim Tae-soo Hotel King Sung-won (young) Yoon Yong-seok 2015 The Return of Hwang Geum-bok Kim Tae-soo Six Flying Dragons Jo Mal-saeng 2016 You Are a Gift Detective Hwang Dae-hoon Fund manager 2017 My Father Is Strange Lee PD Jane Oh, the Mysterious Kim Yoon-soo 2018 Mother Lawless Lawyer Seokgwan-dong Are You Human? Heart Surgeons Dong Dong-jun 2019 Confession Hwang Kyo-sik Nokdu Flower Min Young-hwi Choi Soo-wan At Eighteen Son Jae-young Crash Landing on You Yoon Se-joon KBS Drama Special - Hidden Kim Hyun 2020 Extracurricular Choi Hyun-sung Mystic Pop-up Bar Jang Bok-soo Special appearance Flower of Evil Lee Woo-cheol Do You Like Brahms? Park Sung-jae 2021 Beyond Evil Park Jeong-je Racket Boys Reporter Kim You Raise Me Up Director Jang Special appearance Melancholia Ryu Sung-jae 2021 KBS Drama Special — Oddinary 2022 Insider Noh Seung-hwan Extraordinary Attorney Woo Jang Seung-jun Special appearance The Good Detective 2 Cheon Sang-woo One Dollar Lawyer Seo Min-hyuk Curtain Call Park Se-gyu 2024 Captivating the King Yi Seon 2025 When Life Gives You Tangerines Bu Sang-Gil Pro BonoWoo Myung-hoon 2026 The Wonderfools Son Kyung-hoon Agent Kim Reactivated Seong Han-su
Television show + Year Title Role Notes 2026 The Village Barber Part-timer Season 1
Stage Musical concert + Musical concert performances of Choi Year Title Role Venue Date English Korean 1999 Three Pansori by Lim Jin-Taek 임진택의 창작판소리 세 바탕 Solo traveler tourism group Dongsoong Art Center Dongsoong Hall December 12 to 23 2014 Musical Story Show 10th Anniversary with Lee Seok-jun 뮤지컬 이야기쇼 이석준과 함께 10주년 Special appearance LG Arts Center May 26 2015 Hoy! Style Magazine Show Himself (Panelist) Jangcheon Hall, Gwanglim Art Center November 30, 2015
Musical play + Musical play performances of Choi Year Title Role Venue Date English Korean 2006 The Celestial Watch Jang Young-shil Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center 2007–2008 Finding Mr. Destiny Season 3 Multi-man JTN Art Hall 1(Daehakro Arts Plaza Hall 1) 2009 Finding Mr. Destiny Season 4 JTN Art Hall 1(Daehakro Arts Plaza Hall 1) April 2009 Seongnam Art Centre Ensemble Theatre November 3 to 22 MBC Lotte Art Hall 2010 Finding Mr. Destiny Season 5 JTN Art Hall 1(Daehakro Arts Plaza Hall 1) Started from July 13, 2010 2014 The Goddess is Watching Lee Chang-seop Goyang Eoullimnuri Eoullim Theater 2015 Busan Cinema Center Sky Theater
Theater + Theater play performances of Choi Year Title Role Venue Date English Korean 2000–2001 Island Baby - Extreme Myth Youth Theater Second Story 섬집아기 - 극단 신화 청소년극장 두번째이야기 Human Small Theater December 12, 2000 to January 28, 2001 2002 2002 OFF Daehangno Theater Festival; A Stroll on the Battlefield - Absurd Drama Series #1 (2002) OFF 대학로 연극 페스티벌; 전쟁터의 산책 - 부조리극시리즈 Ensemble cast Circular Stage Small Theater May 3 to June 1 (May 5 to 11) 2003 Medea 메디아 Jae-ppo National Theater's Sky Theater June 18 to 20 2004 3rd Unpaved Theatre Festival: Coat () 비포장연극제; 외투 National Theatre Byeoreum Theatre February 24 to March 2 Waiting for Godot 고도를 기다리며 Joo-ju Small theatre festival August 26 to September 26 2005 Now 지금 Black Box Theater August 5 to 21 2006 Fantasy Fairy Tale 환상동화 War Clown Sangmyung Art Hall 1 in Daehangno, Seoul September 14 to October 1. 2006–2007 Church Brother 교회오빠 Daehangno Art Theater Tree and Water December to January 14, 2007 2007 Atami Murder Case 아타미 살인사건 Momotaro Old Studio 76 January 6, 2007 to February 4, 2008 Fantasy Fairy Tale 환상동화 War Clown TOM Theater 2 April 5 to July 1, 2007 What Incident 어떤 사건 Choi Chang-sik Old Studio 76 July 31 to August 12 2008–2009 Fantasy Fairy Tale 환상동화 War Clown TOM Theater Company Daehangno April 5 to August 31, 2008 2009 My First Time 마이 퍼스트 타임 Man one JTN Art Hall 3 January 3 to May 10, 2009 2010 Song of the Palace 별궁의 노래 Jwa Ui-jeong Sowol Art Hall May 21 to 30 2011 Dramatic One Night 극적인 하룻밤 Han Jeong-hoon Harmony Art Hall (Dongseong-ro Theater) July 13 to September 10, 2011 2011–2012 Art One Theater 2 July 16, 2011 to May 28, 2012 2012 Wedding scandal 웨딩 스캔들 Henri Hakjeon Blue Small Theater March 1 to July 1, 2012 2012–2013 Sangmyung Art Hall 1 August 24, 2012 to February 3, 2013 2013 Fantasy Fairy Tale 환상동화 War Clown Art One Theater 3 1 March to May 26, 2013 Daehangno Arts Theater Main Theater December 6 ton15, 2013 2013–2014 Almost, Maine 올모스트 메인 Sangmyung Art Hall 1 November 11, 2013 to January 19, 2014 2014 The Best Play Festival 5 - Pride 연극열전5 - 프라이드 Peter Art One Theater 2 August 16 to November 9, 2014 2014–2015 Melodrama 멜로드라마 Kim Chan-il Seoul Arts Center Free Small Theater December 31, 2015 to February 15, 2015 2015 Melodrama 멜로드라마 Kim Chan-il Seoul Arts Center Opera House Jayu Small Theater January 26 to February 15, 2015 Haneulyeon Theatre, Busan Cinema Centre April 10 to 11, 2015 Model Students 모범생들 Jong-tae Daehakno Free Theatre May 8 to August 2, 2015 2015–2016 Kiss of the Spider Woman Molina Sinyeon Art Hall (A Art Hall) November 7, 2015 to January 31, 2016 2016 Press Release 보도지침 Don Gyeol Yes24 Stage 3 March 26 to June 12, 2016 Casa Valentina 까사발렌티나 George/Valentina Yes24 Stage 2 June 21nto September 11, 2016 2017 Behemoth 베헤모스 Pyeon Chungmu Art Center Black Box February 1 to April 2, 2017 2018 Of Mice and Men 생쥐와 인간 Lenny TOM Theater 1 July 24 to October 14, 2018 2019 Uniplex 2 September 24 to November 17, 2019
Awards and nominations