South Korean rising star Choi Hyun-wook (최현욱) gained recognition through his role in “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One” and has since appeared in several notable works, including “Weak Hero Class 1,” “D.P. Season 2,” and “High Cookie.” He is considered one of the most anticipated actors in his 20s. However, his growing popularity has been accompanied by a string of private life controversies, from littering cigarette butts and nightclub incidents to accidentally uploading private photos on social media. Last year, he faced criticism for a pitching error during a new drama shoot that nearly hit a child, causing his public image to plummet.
Choi Hyun-wook recently sparked debate again after a drunken livestream. On the morning of August 30, he went live on social media to interact with fans, holding a glass of alcohol and repeatedly admitting he was intoxicated. Given that the livestream began as early as 7 a.m., the footage quickly went viral, leading netizens to revisit past interviews where he apologized for previous controversies and expressed “deep self-reflection.”
Choi Hyun-wook livestreamed from early morning until dawn on August 30, with many domestic and international fans tuning in. During the broadcast, he held a glass and stated that it was 7:28 a.m., explicitly saying, “I’m drunk.” Many fans expressed concern in the comments, hoping someone would intervene. Choi Hyun-wook responded, “Koreans should be sleeping at this hour, so no one will stop me.” He continued the livestream without intervention, which further worried some fans.
After the video circulated, some fans expressed concern about his state, while others believed that as a public figure, he should exercise more caution when displaying intoxication on public platforms.
In fact, Choi Hyun-wook has previously faced controversies regarding littering cigarette butts, social media leaks, and his attitude during a baseball game’s first pitch. Consequently, the exposure of his recent drunken livestream has led netizens to re-examine these past incidents.
Many believe that a single livestream does not define a person entirely, but given Choi Hyun-wook’s history of multiple controversies, this seemingly ordinary behavior has been subjected to heightened scrutiny.
Notably, in July of this year, during an interview for the Netflix series “High Cookie,” he addressed past controversies, stating that he had “truly reflected a lot” and hoped to become a more mature and responsible person. He also expressed a desire to help viewers immerse themselves more deeply in his future projects through his acting.
Therefore, this resurfaced interview has led some netizens to believe that having publicly expressed reflection, he should demonstrate change in his daily behavior. However, others argue that his future actions should be observed before drawing conclusions based solely on one livestream.
Beyond the drunken livestream, Choi Hyun-wook’s past interactions with Kim Tae-ri (김태리) have also garnered renewed attention. Earlier this year, the two appeared together on tvN’s variety show “Teacher Tae-ri After School,” where a segment of their mealtime interaction drew much laughter. In the show, Kim Tae-ri was seriously contemplating the next lesson’s content, while Choi Hyun-wook was captivated by the pork belly in front of him, creating a stark contrast in their reactions.
At one point, Kim Tae-ri asked Choi Hyun-wook, “What were you thinking when I was talking just now?” He unexpectedly replied, “The pork belly looks delicious.”
Later, Kim Tae-ri seriously discussed her role as a teaching assistant, hoping to brainstorm lesson ideas together, while Choi Hyun-wook candidly admitted that he had “turned that function off” for the moment. Their back-and-forth was considered highly entertaining.
However, some clips were later edited into short videos and circulated online. Because these videos only highlighted their differing opinions, they once sparked speculation of a “feud between Kim Tae-ri and Choi Hyun-wook.” Choi Hyun-wook previously addressed this in an interview, urging viewers who only watched the short clips to watch the full program. He also revealed that he remains in contact with Kim Tae-ri and that their private relationship is good, indirectly refuting the rumors of a disagreement.
Now, with the renewed discussion surrounding his drunken livestream, Choi Hyun-wook’s past statements and program segments are resurfacing. For this young actor, who has steadily built up his filmography in recent years, the focus is not only on his acting performances but also on how he will rebuild public trust through concrete actions in the future.
