Veteran South Korean actor, Choi Jung-woo, known for his roles in movies such as “City Hunter” and “Legend of the Blue Sea” died Tuesday at the age of 68.
According to The Korea Times, Choi died in the early hours of the morning as revealed by his agency.
The exact cause of death has not been disclosed, though it was reported that he had been battling a chronic illness.
Born in 1957, Choi made his debut in 1975 with the play “The Life of an Actor” and later worked as a voice actor for Tongyang Broadcasting Company beginning in 1980.
While he built much of his career on the stage, he reportedly transitioned into film and television in the 2000s, appearing in dozens of acclaimed works.
His film credits include Two Cops, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, The Chaser, The Witch, Smugglers, The Moon and the Project Silence.
He also appeared in popular dramas such as ‘The Painter of the Wind,’ ‘Prosecutor Princess,’ ‘Tree with Deep Roots,’ ‘My Daughter Seo-young,’ ‘A Brilliant Legacy,’ ‘Doctor Stranger,’ ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea,’ ‘Five Children,’ ‘Star Daughter-in-law,’ ‘Even if You Fall for Me,’ and ‘The Witch.’
Earlier this year, he played Park Joon-ki in ‘The Tale of Lady Ok,’ a character suspicious of the protagonist Koo Deok-i (played by Lim Ji-yeon).
Choi’s wake is reportedly being held at the funeral hall of Woori Hospital in Gimpo. The funeral will take place on Thursday, with the burial to follow at Suwon Yeonhwa Cemetery.
