Actor
Choi Min-sik
Born 22 January 1962 · Seoul, South Korea
Choi Min-sik is a South Korean actor known for intense, physically committed performances. He became a leading man in Korean cinema with Shiri and gained international fame as the vengeful protagonist of Oldboy. He is regarded as one of Korea's finest actors and a face of the country's cinematic rise.
Key films
Shiri (1999)
Landmark Korean blockbuster that established him as a leading film actor.
Oldboy (2003)
His signature role as a man imprisoned for years; cemented his international reputation.
I Saw the Devil (2010)
Chilling turn as a serial killer opposite Lee Byung-hun in a landmark Korean thriller.
The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
Played Admiral Yi Sun-sin in what became South Korea's top-grossing film at the time.
Lucy (2014)
Hollywood sci-fi thriller in which he played the villain, bringing him wider global exposure.
Key awards
- 2015: Grand Prize (Film), 51st Baeksang Arts Awards, for The Admiral: Roaring Currents
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 41
- 1988VaporActor
- 1989Kuro Arirang · as Jin-seokActor
- 1989On the Way to the Winter · as Gi-dalActor
- 1990All That Falls Has Wings · as Tae-sikActor
- 1992Our Twisted Hero · as Mr. KimActor
- 1992May Our Love Stay This Way · as Jun-hyeokActor
- 1993Sara Is GuiltyActor
- 1995Mom, the Star, and the Sea AnemoneActor
- 1997No. 3 · as Ma Dong-palActor
- 1998The Quiet Family · as Chang-gooActor
- 1999Shiri · as Park Mu-youngActor
- 1999Happy End · as Seo Min-kiActor
- 2001Failan · as Kang-jaeActor
- 2002Chihwaseon · as Jang Seung-upActor
- 2003Oldboy · as Oh Dae-suActor
- 2004Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War · as North Korean CaptainActor
- 2004Springtime · as Hyeon-wooActor
- 2004Autobiography of OldboyActor
- 2005Lady Vengeance · as Mr. BaekActor
- 2005Crying Fist · as Gang Tae-shikActor
- 2005The Making of Lady VengeanceActor
- 2009Himalaya, Where the Wind Dwells · as ChoiActor
- 2010I Saw the Devil · as Kyung-chulActor
- 2011Leafie, a Hen Into the Wild · as Wanderer (voice)Actor
- 2012Nameless Gangster · as Choi Ik-hyunActor
- 2012Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2012Ari Ari the Korean Cinema · as SelfActor
- 2013New World · as Kang Hyung-chulActor
- 2013In My End Is My Beginning · as Doctor (voice) (cameo)Actor
- 2014Lucy · as Mr. JangActor
- 2014The Admiral: Roaring Currents · as Admiral Yi Sun-ShinActor
- 2015The Tiger · as Man-deokActor
- 2016Old Days · as SelfActor
- 2017Heart Blackened · as Lim Tae-sanActor
- 2017The Mayor · as Byeon Jong-guActor
- 2019The Battle: Roar to Victory · as Hong Beom-doActor
- 2019Forbidden Dream · as Jang Yeong-silActor
- 2021Heaven: To the Land of Happiness · as 203Actor
- 2022In Our Prime · as Ri Hak-sungActor
- 2024Exhuma · as Kim Sang-dukActor
- 2026The Intern · as Kim Ki-hoActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.