Choi Min-sik
Encyclopedia
Choi Min-sik is a South Korea
n actor. He is best known for his critically acclaimed roles in Oldboy
and I Saw the Devil
.
, he is one of the premiere Korean actors both domestically and on the global scene. Choi started his career as a theatrical actor
before adding film roles, first with parts in Park Jong-won's films Kuro Arirang and Our Twisted Hero
and later in the 1990s by appearing as a police investigator in No. 3
and as a North Korea
n agent in Korea's most successful film ever at that point, Shiri
.
In the 2000s, aided by the success of Shiri, Choi continued to get versatile lead roles first as a gangster
in Failan
and then as a 19th-century painter in Chihwaseon. In 2003, he took on the role that brought him international attention as revenge-seeking Oh Dae-su
in Oldboy
.
At various points during 2006, Choi (and several other Korean filmmakers, though separately from Choi) demonstrated in Seoul and at the Cannes Film Festival
against the Korean decision to reduce the Film Quota
from 146 to 73 days.
In November 2008 after Universal
confirmed they would try to make a Hollywood adaption of Oldboy, Choi admitted to many French media reporters that he was upset at Hollywood for using what he described as low-style pressure tactics on Asian and European film makers so they could remake foreign movies in the United States. In 2010, Choi starred in the thriller I Saw the Devil
alongside Lee Byung-hun
which is directed by Kim Ji-woon
.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n actor. He is best known for his critically acclaimed roles in Oldboy
Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
and I Saw the Devil
I Saw the Devil
I Saw the Devil is a 2010 South Korean thriller film directed by Kim Ji-woon, written by Park Hoon-jung and starring Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and had a limited U.S theatrical release. The film was Choi Min-sik's first major role since...
.
Movie career
Along with Song Kang-HoSong Kang-ho
Song Kang-ho is a leading South Korean film actor.- Career:Song Kang-ho never professionally trained as an actor, beginning his career in social theater groups after graduating from Kimhae High School...
, he is one of the premiere Korean actors both domestically and on the global scene. Choi started his career as a theatrical actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
before adding film roles, first with parts in Park Jong-won's films Kuro Arirang and Our Twisted Hero
Our Twisted Hero
Our Twisted Hero is a South Korean novel written by Yi Munyol. It was first published by World Literature on June, 1987. Yi Munyol was awarded the 1987 Yi Sang Literary Award for the novel...
and later in the 1990s by appearing as a police investigator in No. 3
No. 3
No. 3 is a South Korean gangster comedy film starring Han Suk-kyu as the titular no. 3 man of a gangster organization who's aspiring to rise up the ranks and become the leader of his own gang. It was writer-director Song Nung-han's debut film....
and as a North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n agent in Korea's most successful film ever at that point, Shiri
Shiri (film)
Shiri is a 1999 South Korean action film, written and directed by Kang Je-gyu.Swiri was the first Hollywood-style big-budget blockbuster to be produced in the "new" Korean film industry...
.
In the 2000s, aided by the success of Shiri, Choi continued to get versatile lead roles first as a gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
in Failan
Failan
Failan is a 2001 South Korean film written and directed by Song Hae-seong. The film was adapted from a Japanese novel by Jiro Asada. It stars Choi Min-sik and Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung.-Plot:...
and then as a 19th-century painter in Chihwaseon. In 2003, he took on the role that brought him international attention as revenge-seeking Oh Dae-su
Oh Dae-su
Oh Dae-su is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 2003 South Korean film Oldboy, played by Choi Min-sik. Choi won a number of awards for his portrayal of Oh, including the 2004 Grand Bell Award and Asia Pacific Film Festival Award for Best Actor...
in Oldboy
Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
.
At various points during 2006, Choi (and several other Korean filmmakers, though separately from Choi) demonstrated in Seoul and at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
against the Korean decision to reduce the Film Quota
Screen quotas
Screen quotas are a legislated policy that enforces a minimum number of screening days of domestic films in the theater each year to protect the nation’s films. The screen quota system is enforced to prevent foreign markets from making inroads into the domestic film market. The screen quota system...
from 146 to 73 days.
In November 2008 after Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
confirmed they would try to make a Hollywood adaption of Oldboy, Choi admitted to many French media reporters that he was upset at Hollywood for using what he described as low-style pressure tactics on Asian and European film makers so they could remake foreign movies in the United States. In 2010, Choi starred in the thriller I Saw the Devil
I Saw the Devil
I Saw the Devil is a 2010 South Korean thriller film directed by Kim Ji-woon, written by Park Hoon-jung and starring Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and had a limited U.S theatrical release. The film was Choi Min-sik's first major role since...
alongside Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-Hun
Lee Byung-hun is a South Korean actor, singer and model. He has starred in popular television dramas such as Iris , All In and Beautiful Days...
which is directed by Kim Ji-woon
Kim Ji-Woon
Kim Ji-woon is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Kim Ji-woon has a history of successfully tackling a wide range of film genres, garnering a cult following among Asian films fans all over the world.-Career:...
.
Filmography
- Kuro Arirang (1989)
- 우리들의 일그러진 영웅 (Urideurui ilgeureojin yeongung)Our Twisted Hero (film)Our Twisted Hero is a 1992 South Korean film directed by Park Jong-won. It was chosen as Best Film at the Chunsa Film Art Awards. It is based on the book Our Twisted Hero.-Synopsis:...
(1992) - Sara Is Guilty (1993)
- No. 3No. 3No. 3 is a South Korean gangster comedy film starring Han Suk-kyu as the titular no. 3 man of a gangster organization who's aspiring to rise up the ranks and become the leader of his own gang. It was writer-director Song Nung-han's debut film....
(1997) - The Quiet FamilyThe Quiet FamilyThe Quiet Family is a 1998 South Korean comedy horror film. It was director Kim Ji-woon's feature film debut. The story centers around a family who owns a hunting lodge in a remote area, whose customers always happen to end up dying...
(1998) - ShiriShiri (film)Shiri is a 1999 South Korean action film, written and directed by Kang Je-gyu.Swiri was the first Hollywood-style big-budget blockbuster to be produced in the "new" Korean film industry...
(1999) - Happy End (1999)
- FailanFailanFailan is a 2001 South Korean film written and directed by Song Hae-seong. The film was adapted from a Japanese novel by Jiro Asada. It stars Choi Min-sik and Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung.-Plot:...
(2001) - Chi-hwa-seonChi-hwa-seonChi-hwa-seon or Chwi-hwa-seon, , is a 2002 South Korean drama film directed by Im Kwon-taek about Jang Seung-up , a nineteenth-century Korean painter who changed the direction of Korean art.-Synopsis:It begins with the Korean artist being suspicious of a Japanese...
(2002) - OldboyOldboyOldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
(2003) - TaegukgiTaegukgi (film)Taegukgi Hwinallimyo is a 2004 South Korean war film directed by Kang Je-gyu. It tells the story about the effect of the Korean War on two brothers. The film's title is the name of the pre-war Flag of Korea as well as the postwar Flag of South Korea...
(2004) - cameo appearance - SpringtimeSpringtime (2004 film)When Spring Comes is a 2004 South Korean film starring Choi Min-sik as a struggling musician who takes a job as a music teacher in a rural mining town outside of Seoul....
(2004) - Crying FistCrying FistCrying Fist is a 2005 South Korean film written and directed by Ryu Seung-wan.- Synopsis :Jobless, besieged by creditors, and abandoned by his wife, the once silver medalist Tae-shik has sunk to street hustling, becoming a human punching bag. Meanwhile, young Sang-hwan's delinquent ways land him...
(2005) - Sympathy for Lady VengeanceSympathy for Lady VengeanceSympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy...
(2005) - Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells (2009)
- I Saw the DevilI Saw the DevilI Saw the Devil is a 2010 South Korean thriller film directed by Kim Ji-woon, written by Park Hoon-jung and starring Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and had a limited U.S theatrical release. The film was Choi Min-sik's first major role since...
(2010)