Choi Hyun-wook's Risky Drunken Livestream

(MHN Reporter Kim So-young) Actor Choi Hyun-wook has stirred up controversy once again by conducting an inebriated livestream on his personal social media in the early hours of the morning.

On the 30th, Choi initiated a live broadcast through his Instagram, engaging with fans in real-time.

Visibly intoxicated, Choi appeared on camera making questionable remarks. When foreign fans began commenting, he joked, "Looks like we've got a lot of international viewers. I'm sure it'll translate itself, but remember to be nice to Koreans!" He also made self-deprecating comments about his appearance, saying, "I look ugly because I'm like a pig."

Despite fans expressing concern about his early morning drinking session, Choi brushed off their worries, stating, "All the Koreans are asleep at this hour. That means there's no one to stop me," and continued the broadcast.

Reactions from fans were mixed following the livestream. Some defended Choi, arguing that the brief five-minute broadcast was just playful banter with fans. However, public opinion has been largely unsympathetic. Given his recent string of personal controversies, many criticized Choi for unnecessarily inviting more scandal by going live while intoxicated.

This isn't Choi's first brush with personal life scandals. In 2023, he was caught on video holding hands with a woman and littering cigarette butts on Seoul's Apgujeong Rodeo Street, leading to a public apology and fine. Prior to that, in 2022, he faced backlash when footage of him at a club was leaked online.

Bizarre incidents have continued to plague the actor. In 2024, he posted a photo of a figurine on social media, only to quickly delete it when fans pointed out that his nude reflection was visible in the prop's surface. More recently, Choi drew criticism for throwing a dangerously fast pitch over a young batter's head during a KBO postseason ceremonial first pitch. After facing public backlash, he belatedly issued a handwritten apology through his agency.

Choi Hyun-wook made his debut in the 2019 web drama "If You're Jealous, You Lose" and has since risen as a promising young talent, starring in notable productions such as SBS's "Taxi Driver," tvN's "Twenty-Five Twenty-One," Wavve's "Weak Hero Class 1," and tvN's "Twinkling Watermelon."

His most recent role in Netflix's original series "The Boy in the Last Row" saw him playing Lee Kang, a genius student who disrupts the life of Korean literature professor Heo Mun-oh (played by veteran actor Choi Min-sik). Choi's performance alongside the seasoned Choi Min-sik garnered critical acclaim. Currently, he's slated to appear in director Jang Jae-hyun's upcoming film "Vampire," which is awaiting release.