Rising Star Choo Young-woo: From Academic Setbacks to Acting Success

Choo Young-woo's journey to success wasn't without its hurdles. From academic setbacks to a flourishing acting career, his story is one of perseverance and talent. Despite initial challenges, Choo has emerged as a promising actor, continuing his streak with the upcoming tvN drama 'Head Over Heels'.

Choo Young-woo stars as the lead in 'Head Over Heels', which premieres on the evening of the 23rd. The drama tells the story of a boy destined to die and a young shaman girl from the MZ generation who tries to save him. Choo plays Bae Gyeon-woo, an 18-year-old high school student who has narrowly escaped death multiple times.

This year alone, Choo has showcased his versatility in three different projects, earning critical acclaim. In January, he charmed audiences as Song Seo-in, the greatest romanticist of the Joseon era, in JTBC's 'The Tale of Lady Ok'. The drama topped TV-OTT drama buzz rankings, with Choo and co-star Lim Ji-yeon ranking first and second in actor buzz. His performance earned him the Best New Actor award in the TV category at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards.

Choo also starred in the Netflix series 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call' as fellow doctor Yang Jae-won, a character known for his clumsy yet skilled and sincere approach to patients. The series topped the global TV show (non-English) category in 17 countries and ranked first in South Korea's top 10 series. It even surpassed 'Squid Game' Season 2 from January 27 to February 2.

In the recently released Netflix series 'Mercy for None', Choo took on the role of prosecutor Lee Geum-son, a character torn between pursuing justice and harboring ambitions for power within the organization. 'Mercy for None' entered the global top 10 list in 75 countries, including South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Germany, and Switzerland, and ranked first in nine countries.

Since his debut in 2021, Choo Young-woo has successfully led three projects this year. His achievements are not solely due to luck; they are the result of his dedication to acting. Choo majored in acting and faced numerous rejections during his aspiring actor days.

Six years ago, as a student at the Korea National University of Arts, Choo made a brief 33-second appearance on the variety show 'You Quiz on the Block'. When asked about his desired search terms, he mentioned "Actor Choo Young-woo, Choo Young-woo acting, Choo Young-woo works".

Originally a science student at Hansol High School, a prestigious autonomous public high school in Sejong City, Choo loved math and science. However, during a career counseling session in his second year, he realized he had no interest in pursuing a traditional academic path. He told his parents, "I don't want to study anymore. There's no major I want to pursue." Despite not attending an arts-focused school, he joined an acting academy in his third year and dedicated himself to acting. He practiced tirelessly, even losing weight from 86kg to 64kg by surviving on a single bag of nuts a day.

In 2018, Choo was accepted into Sejong University and Seoul Institute of the Arts but missed the tuition payment deadline for Sejong University due to a misunderstanding about the deadline. This mistake felt like "the world was collapsing" for him. However, he persevered and was accepted into the prestigious Korea National University of Arts, Sejong University, and Seoul Institute of the Arts the following year, ultimately enrolling at the Korea National University of Arts as a scholarship student.

Despite what seemed like a smooth path, Choo faced further setbacks. From 2021 to 2022, he auditioned for around 100 roles in various projects, including 'Under The Queen's Umbrella', 'The Penthouse', 'D.P.', and 'Black Knight', but was rejected each time. Choo admitted, "I was too desperate and nervous, and my acting wasn't as good as it is now. People often questioned if I was really from the Korea National University of Arts because my acting was so poor." Even his father suggested he consider a backup plan, but Choo was determined, saying, "I will act until I die."

Choo's relentless effort, determination, and passion have been the foundation of his recent successes. He now returns to the screen alongside Cho Yi-hyun in the youth romance 'Head Over Heels'. Director Kim Yong-wan praised Choo, saying, "He's gaining popularity through great projects, and it's like winning the lottery to have him in our drama while he's on the rise." As Choo continues to captivate audiences, all eyes are on whether he can strike gold once again.