Rising star Choi Hyunwook just dropped the backstory on how he went from being a baseball athlete to one of our favorite actors as he sat down for the episode of 'Pinggyego' that aired on the 27th alongside legendary actor Choi Minsik. The two are co-starring in Netflix's new series 'Notes from the Last Row.'
During the chat, Choi Hyunwook revealed:
"I played baseball until I was 17, during my first year of high school. I still occasionally play in amateur baseball leagues today, but since each league has its own eligibility rules, I only participate in the ones I'm allowed to play in."
So, why did he quit baseball? It turns out he was forced to give up his dream of becoming a baseball player due to an elbow injury. Reflecting on the difficult time, Choi Hyunwook shared:
"I had surgery and went through rehabilitation. I hoped to play again, but I realized I'd reached my limit, so I quit."
After giving up baseball, he spent a lot of time thinking about what he wanted to do next with his life. That's when legendary actor Choi Minsik got curious and asked him, "How did you end up becoming an actor?"
Choi Hyunwook explained that while he was trying to figure out his life after baseball, he realized he already had a huge love for movies. He recalled:
"After watching 'The Battleship Island' and 'Along with the Gods,' I cried a lot. It made me think that maybe I was more emotionally sensitive than other people. So, I decided to start acting."
His path completely changed from there. He eventually made his acting debut in the web drama 'Real:Time:Love,' and quickly built up an impressive filmography, capturing everyone's attention with his roles in hit dramas like 'Taxi Driver,' 'Racket Boys,' 'Weak Hero Class 1,' and 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One.'
