# Choi Soo-jong (최수종)
**Choi Soo-jong** (최수종; also romanized Choi Su-jong) is a South Korean actor best known for lead roles in long-running television historical dramas, including *Taejo Wang Gun*, *Dae Jo Yeong*, and the 2023–2024 KBS series *Korea-Khitan War*, and for hosting the KBS1 program *Korean People's Table* (한국인의 밥상). He was born in South Korea in 1962[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/) and made his acting debut in 1987 with the television drama *Tree of Love*[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/broadcasting-service/10983067).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962, South Korea[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/) |
| Debut | 1987, television drama *Tree of Love*[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/broadcasting-service/10983067) |
| Signature historical roles | Wang Geon in *Taejo Wang Gun*, Jang Bo-go in *Emperor of the Sea*, Dae Jo-yeong, Yi Sun-sin in *Imjin War 1592*, Gang Gam-chan in *Korea-Khitan War*[3](https://asianwiki.com/Choi_Su-Jong) |
| KBS Drama Awards Grand Prize | Four wins, including *Dae Jo Yeong* (2007) and *Korea-Khitan War* (2023)[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/broadcasting-service/10983067) • [4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Choi_Soo_Jong?hc_location=ufi) |
| Long-running series leads | *Taejo Wang Gun*: 200 episodes over four years; *Dae Jo Yeong*: 134 episodes; *My Only One*: 106 episodes[5](https://host.cine21.com/news/view/?idx=0&mag_id=25493) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/) |
| State honor | Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit, 2024 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Choi_Soo_Jong?hc_location=ufi) |
| Family | Married to actress Ha Hee-ra; two children[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/) |
## Early life and debut
Choi studied English Literature at Korea National Open University before entering acting[6](https://www.viki.com/celebrities/16041pr-choi-soo-jong). In a 2020 interview he described a childhood made difficult by his father's failed business, and said he first attended church as an elementary school student after a classmate invited him with promises of eggs and school supplies. He has spoken of a period in his mid-twenties when, with nowhere to sleep, he was given a newspaper by a stranger at a bus terminal and resolved to help people in difficulty; he has served as an elder in the Presbyterian tradition[7](https://www.kctusa.org/news/articleView.html?idxno=13953).
His debut came in 1987 with *Tree of Love*[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/broadcasting-service/10983067). Through the early 1990s he appeared in films including *You Know What? It's a Secret* (1990), *Superman Iljimae* (1990), *Back To You Once More* (1991), *The Night Full Of Stars* (1991), *Man Upstairs, Woman Downstairs* (1992), and *The Man Who Cannot Kiss* (1994)[8](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/peopleView2.jsp?peopleCd=10072399).
## Ratings hits and early stardom
Choi became a household name through series that drew exceptional audiences. *First Love*, which aired its first episode on KBS2 in September 1996, scored a 65.8 percent audience rating, one of Korean television's all-time hits[9](https://www.korea.net/koreanet/fileDownload?fileUrl=%2Fcontent%2Fpdf%2Fgeneral%2FK-Drama_20111212.pdf). IMDb's biography states that *First Love*, *Taejo Wang Gun*, and *Son and Daughter* each reached viewership ratings of 50 to 60 percent in their final episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/).
In 1998 he took a markedly different role in the KBS series *Legend of Ambition* (야망의 전설), playing Lee Jung-tae, an organized-crime member recruited as a special agent against [North Korea](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-korea) after the May 16 coup. He prepared for the part with two months of physical training and martial-arts practice, losing 4 kg in two months, and said in an interview that he had long wanted such a role but had seen similar parts go to actors like [Choi Min-soo](https://www.edgepedia.org/choi-min-soo)[10](https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/19980331/7333523/9).
## Historical dramas
**The sageuk specialist.** Choi's career is defined by large-scale historical dramas (sageuk). He played the title role in *Taejo Wang Gun*, filming 200 episodes over four years, an experience he later cited when describing a 50-episode, ten-month production as comparatively light[5](https://host.cine21.com/news/view/?idx=0&mag_id=25493). In 2004 he was cast as the sea trader Jang Bo-go in KBS2's *Emperor of the Sea* (해신), his third KBS historical title role after *Taejo Wang Gun* (2000) and *A Pioneer, Lee Che-ma* (2002)[11](https://www.imaeil.com/page/view/2004040915295542436). A scholarly account describes *Hae-sin* as a 51-episode epic broadcast from November 2004 to May 2005, telling the story of Jang Bo-go, who built an oceanic trading empire from [Cheonghaejin](https://www.edgepedia.org/cheonghaejin) on the southwestern tip of the peninsula during the late Unified Silla period[12](https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/bitstream/2019.sw.cau/27942/1/A%20Historical%20Imagination%20of%20a%20Neo-liberal%20Society%3BConsiderations%20on%20the%20Korean%20Historical%20Drama%20Chuno.pdf).
He went on to play the founder-king Dae Jo-yeong in *Dae Jo Yeong* (KBS1, 2006–2007, 134 episodes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/), Kim Choon-Choo in *King's Dream* (KBS, 2012–2013)[3](https://asianwiki.com/Choi_Su-Jong), and [Yi Sun-sin](https://www.edgepedia.org/yi-sun-sin) in *Imjin War 1592* (KBS1, 2016), a drama he described as based on facts rather than a writer's fictional reinterpretation[3](https://asianwiki.com/Choi_Su-Jong) • [13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgma_Ydk8OM).
**Korea-Khitan War.** In *Korea-Khitan War* (고려거란전쟁, KBS2, 2023–2024) he played [Gang Gam-chan](https://www.edgepedia.org/gang-gam-chan), the Goryeo general who led the army against the Khitan; the series ran 29 episodes and earned him the Grand Prize at the 2023 KBS Drama Awards, shared with a Best Couple Award with Kim Dong Joon[3](https://asianwiki.com/Choi_Su-Jong) • [4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Choi_Soo_Jong?hc_location=ufi). With this win his career total of KBS Grand Prizes for Acting reached four, the most of any winner[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/broadcasting-service/10983067).
## Contemporary roles
Outside the historical genre, Choi played Kang Soo-il in the family melodrama *My Only One* (KBS2, 2018–2019, 106 episodes), winning Best Actor and Best Couple at the 2018 KBS Drama Awards[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/) • [3](https://asianwiki.com/Choi_Su-Jong). His other television work includes *Emperor of the Sea*'s successor roles in *Into the Flames* (TV Chosun, 2014), a cameo as a man shopping for a suit in *[Record of Youth](https://www.edgepedia.org/record-of-youth)* (tvN, 2020, episode 14), and *Legend of the Patriots* (KBS, 2010)[3](https://asianwiki.com/Choi_Su-Jong).
## Hosting and later recognition
Since 2024 Choi has been the MC of *Korean People's Table* (한국인의 밥상) on KBS1, a program running since January 2011 that documents Korean food and table culture. He succeeded the founding MC Choi Bool-am, who had hosted for 14 years and 3 months. Choi initially declined the offer, worried about following a symbolic program, and said encouragement from the actress Go Du-shim, the program's former narrator, gave him the courage to accept. He devotes two days a week to the show, filming at multiple locations on Wednesdays and recording narration in Seoul on Thursdays[14](https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25337036).
At the 2024 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards he received the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit[4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Choi_Soo_Jong?hc_location=ufi). His other awards include Top Excellence Actor at the 2005 KBS Drama Awards for *Sea God*, Grand Prize at the 2007 KBS Drama Awards for *Dae Jo Yeong*, Top Excellence Actor at the 2008 Korea Drama Awards, and Actor of the Year at the 2001 KBS Acting Awards[4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Choi_Soo_Jong?hc_location=ufi).
## Personal life
Choi is married to the actress Ha Hee-ra; the couple have two children[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/). He is Protestant[4](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Choi_Soo_Jong?hc_location=ufi) and a long-time football and bodybuilding enthusiast; in a 2021 interview he reported injuring his arm while playing football and continuing treatment at a hospital[15](https://www.hankyung.com/article/202106219018H).
## References
1. [Choi Su-jong, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104868/)
2. [Choi Soo-jong, "Immortal Masterpiece," reveals his extraordinary affection for historical dramas, Maeil Business Newspaper (MK)](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/broadcasting-service/10983067)
3. [Choi Soo-Jong, AsianWiki](https://asianwiki.com/Choi_Su-Jong)
4. [Choi Soo Jong, DramaWiki](https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Choi_Soo_Jong?hc_location=ufi)
5. [인터뷰: KBS 드라마 <해신> 장보고역의 최수종, Cine21 (2004)](https://host.cine21.com/news/view/?idx=0&mag_id=25493)
6. [Choi Soo Jong, Viki](https://www.viki.com/celebrities/16041pr-choi-soo-jong)
7. [인터뷰: 탤런트·배우 최수종 장로, Christian Times (2020)](https://www.kctusa.org/news/articleView.html?idxno=13953)
8. [CHOI Soo-jong, Korean Film Council (KOFIC)](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/peopleView2.jsp?peopleCd=10072399)
9. [Korean Culture No.3, K-Drama, Korea.net](https://www.korea.net/koreanet/fileDownload?fileUrl=%2Fcontent%2Fpdf%2Fgeneral%2FK-Drama_20111212.pdf)
10. [인터뷰: KBS 「야망의 전설」서 특수공작원 변신 최수종, Dong-A Ilbo (1998)](https://www.donga.com/news/article/all/19980331/7333523/9)
11. [최수종 KBS 사극 `해신…` 장보고 낙점, Maeil Shinmun (2004)](https://www.imaeil.com/page/view/2004040915295542436)
12. [A Historical Imagination of a Neo-liberal Society: Considerations on the Korean Historical Drama Chuno, The Review of Korean Studies](https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/bitstream/2019.sw.cau/27942/1/A%20Historical%20Imagination%20of%20a%20Neo-liberal%20Society%3BConsiderations%20on%20the%20Korean%20Historical%20Drama%20Chuno.pdf)
13. [Chuseok Special: 'National Actor Choi Soo-jong' returns as Yi Sun-sin, KBS World TV (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgma_Ydk8OM)
14. ['한국인의 밥상' 거절했던 최수종…고두심 이 말에 용기 얻었다, JoongAng Ilbo](https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25337036)
15. [최수종 전치 10주 부상? 괜찮아요 (인터뷰), Hankyung (2021)](https://www.hankyung.com/article/202106219018H)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of East and Southeast Asia › South Korean actors, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license