Choi Hyunwook: Choi Minshik's Genuine Pick

Actor Choi Hyun-wook has established himself as a '​youth icon' in various productions since his debut in the 2019 web drama 'Real:Time:Love'. In particular, the 2022 Wavve drama '​Weak Hero Class 1' is considered his breakout role, where he captivated viewers by portraying a fragile and chaotic youth alongside Park Ji-hoon and Hong Kyung. In the recent Netflix drama '​The Boys' (literal translation: 'The Boy at the End of the Line'), he played Lee Kang, a boy with a natural talent for writing, engaging in a tense acting showdown with Choi Min-sik, overcoming a 40-year age gap.

In 'The Boys', Choi Hyun-wook took on the role of the mad genius Lee Kang and received high praise from Choi Min-sik, who said, "​For the first time in a long time, he made me think, 'What was I doing at that age?'" In an interview, he showed humility, stating, "​As an actor, as the character I was playing, and as a colleague, I simply exchanged energy with my seniors." Choi Min-sik expressed his deep impression, saying, "​I can't imagine Lee Kang being played by anyone other than Choi Hyun-wook."

Following the release of 'The Boys', Choi Hyun-wook has become a topic of discussion both domestically and internationally, earning recognition as a 'talented actor'. In an interview, he shared his feelings: "​It's a relief and a good feeling to see a project I filmed last summer released. I felt nervous and excited. I looked up the reactions a lot, and I was deeply moved by the people who enjoyed it." He particularly mentioned that the reaction "'Heo Mun-o is a 'Postype addict'" was the most amusing.

Regarding his acting chemistry with Choi Min-sik, Choi Hyun-wook said, "I've watched so many of Senior Choi Min-sik's works since I was young. When we actually made eye contact and had conversations, that energy was naturally always there, but more than that, I felt a sense of respect." When asked if he felt pressured acting in front of Choi Min-sik, he replied, "​In front of the camera, I wasn't Choi Hyun-wook, but the character in the drama. I study the character and think about how to approach them. In that sense, there was no pressure."

Choi Hyun-wook expressed his respect, saying, "As a junior, I mostly listened to him. I truly felt that a 'great actor' is different. He's clearly one person, but sometimes he shows a youthful charm, other times he's like a playful kid, and he also imparts wisdom as an adult. When he was acting, in every scene, I thought, 'He really is a great actor.'" He also added that he and Choi Min-sik have similar tastes and enjoy visiting good restaurants.