Actor Choi Jung-woo, who’s been in the game for nearly 50 years, sadly passed away on the 27th at the age of 68.
His agency, Bless ENT, shared the news, saying, “Actor Choi Jung-woo suddenly passed away this morning.”
The exact cause hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s known that he had been battling depression and panic disorder.
Choi debuted way back in 1975 with ‘The Life of an Actor’ and built a solid foundation in theater with groups like Madang Sesil and Shinsi. He got his big break in 1992 with the play ‘Please Turn Off the Light’, which he produced and starred in himself.
In fact, he was once called the “Prince of the Theater World.” He snagged major theater awards — the Grand Prize at the Seoul Theater Festival in 1990 and the Dong-A Theater Award for Acting in 1999. But during the ’90s, he suddenly stepped back from acting to go study film in the U.S.
From the 2000s onward, he became more well-known to the general public, especially for playing serious, high-ranking roles like police execs or chiefs of staff. He appeared in dramas like ‘The Master’s Sun,’ ‘Seo Yeong, My Daughter,’ ‘God’s Quiz,’ ‘Dance with the Wind,’ and ‘The Tale of Lady Ok.’ His film credits include ‘Sympathy for Lady Vengeance,’ ‘The Chaser,’ and ‘Secret Relationships.’
Earlier this year, he quietly marked his 50th debut anniversary and was still active until recently. His final project was the Watcha original series ‘Secret Relationship’, which dropped in February.
The wake’s being held at Room 5 of Gimpo Woori Hospital Funeral Home. The funeral’s scheduled for 10 AM on the 29th.
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