Choi Hyun Wook Scandal: Apology Amidst Kim Tae Ri Feud Rumors

Actor Choi Hyun-wook revealed his honest feelings about the various controversies surrounding him in an interview conducted before the release of the Netflix series 'The Boy Next Door'. He stated that he is striving to become more mature as an actor and as a person.

Regarding the incident last year where he threw a fast pitch towards a young batter during a KBO playoff game, causing controversy, Choi Hyun-wook apologized, saying, "I was nervous and the ball slipped. I should have thrown it slowly from close up to the young friend, but I didn't think of that. I am truly sorry." At the time, his agency announced that Choi Hyun-wook had delivered a handwritten apology letter to the child's guardian.

In addition to this, Choi Hyun-wook had also been the subject of gossip due to incidents such as illegally discarding cigarette butts on the street and uploading a nude photo to social media before deleting it. Regarding these issues, he said, "​I have reflected a lot. I am meeting good seniors around me and I am doing this job with a sense of responsibility, so such things will not happen in the future," expressing his ambition to become an actor who provides viewers with greater immersion through his work.

Furthermore, he directly clarified the controversy over his attitude and rumors of discord with Kim Tae-ri, which arose immediately after the tvN drama 'Dear.M' concluded in April. Choi Hyun-wook recommended, "​For those who have only seen shorts, I recommend watching the full episodes on TVING," and reflected that misunderstandings likely arose because the situation occurred in a different space. He added that he still keeps in touch with Kim Tae-ri and they are close, discussing their experience of creating a project together.

In 'The Boy Next Door,' Choi Hyun-wook plays 'Lee Kang,' a university student who sits in the back row of the classroom and observes the world. Regarding his character's synchronicity with himself, he said, "I have a habit of writing in a diary when I have many complex thoughts," and that the habit of jotting down emotions helps him act with a healthy mindset. He also shared his feelings about working with actor Choi Min-sik, stating, "​It was a set where we always had a lot of fun filming."