Biography
Who is Choi Min-ho?
Early life and education
Choi Min-ho was born on December 9, 1991, in Incheon, South Korea. He grew up with a family background connected to sports, as his father worked as a soccer coach. Choi originally wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a professional football player, but his father disapproved of the decision and guided him toward other paths.
He attended Konkuk University's affiliated high school, graduating on February 10, 2010. After taking the college admissions test, he entered Konkuk University in 2010 to study arts and culture film as a part-time admittance student. He successfully completed his studies and graduated from the institution in 2015.
Music career and Shinee
Choi was discovered through the SM Casting System in 2006. He initially worked as a fashion model before joining the five-member boy group Shinee. The group made their official debut on May 25, 2008, on the music program Inkigayo, performing their first EP titled Replay.
As part of Shinee, Choi contributed to the group's music by participating in rap making under the guidance of rap instructor JQ. He wrote rap lyrics for several tracks, including the 2009 single Juliette. The group went on to become one of the best-selling music acts in South Korea.
Acting career
Choi branched out into acting by making his debut in November 2010 in the KBS2 drama special Pianist. He then took on television roles, playing a genius hacker in the sitcom Salamander Guru and The Shadows in 2012. That same year, he starred in the SBS series To the Beautiful You, a Korean adaptation of the manga Hana-Kimi, preparing for his role as a high jump athlete with intensive physical training.
He continued landing television and film roles over the following years. He appeared in Medical Top Team in 2013, My First Time in 2015, and the historical drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth in 2016. He made his feature film debut in the movie Canola in 2016 and later appeared in Derailed, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as the science fiction action thriller Illang: The Wolf Brigade.
Military service and personal activities
In March 2019, Choi released his solo single I'm Home before enlisting for his mandatory military service. He entered the Marine Corps on April 15, 2019. During his service, he earned recognition as an exemplary marine soldier for forgoing early discharge to take part in defense drills. He finished his military service on November 15, 2020, and resumed his entertainment activities.
Outside of music and acting, Choi has maintained a strong connection to sports and television variety programs. He participated in shows like Let's Go! Dream Team and Law of the Jungle. He also showed his athletic skills in events such as the Idol Futsal World Cup Competition, leading his team to victory.
Birthday and age
Choi Min-ho was born on December 9, 1991, which makes Choi 34 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Choi shares the date with 25 other famous people.
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