Legendary South Korean actor Choi Jung-woo has died at the age of 68, his agency Bless Entertainment has confirmed.
In a brief statement released to the media on Tuesday, May 27, the agency announced his passing but did not disclose the cause of death.
“It is true that he passed away today. The cause of death is not yet known,” the statement read.
Choi began his illustrious career in 1975 with the stage play The Life Of An Actor, before expanding into voice acting at Tongyang Broadcasting.
He later transitioned into television and film, where he became a respected figure in South Korea's entertainment industry.
He is widely remembered for his role in the 2011 hit drama City Hunter, starring Lee Min-ho and Park Min-young.
In the series, Choi portrayed a businessman involved in a covert North Korean operation, running both a chemical company and a hospital.
His versatile talent also saw him appear in major films such as Two Cops 2, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, and The Tyrant.
On television, he featured in popular dramas including Doctor Stranger, Master’s Sun, and The Legend of the Blue Sea.
Choi was also a celebrated stage actor. In 1990, he received the prestigious Grand Prize (Daesang) at the Seoul Theater Festival.
He later won Best Actor at the 36th Dong-A Theatre Awards for his performance in the play Today.
Choi Jung-woo was married three times and shared personal details about his relationships during a 2024 appearance on the talk show Dongchimi.
His first marriage, which he described as rushed and registered without his full awareness, ended in divorce.
His second marriage in his 50s also ended after his wife moved to the US, a period he linked to declining health due to stress.
He referred to his third wife—11 years his junior and of Korean-Japanese descent—as his “best wife,” despite her struggles with anger issues and ADHD.
Choi kept much of his personal life private, and little is publicly known about whether he had children.
Choi Jung-woo’s passing marks the end of a remarkable four-decade career that left an indelible mark on Korea’s film, television, and theatre landscape.
