Choi Won-young: Playing father roles from 'The Heirs' to 'SKY Castle' while single

Actor Choi Won-young will reveal the unique journey of his acting career, where he has consistently played father figures since before he was married.

Despite his youthful appearance, Choi has built a powerful presence playing heavy-set heads of households, cold-hearted parents, and sometimes wounded fathers. On the upcoming episode of the MBC variety show 'Radio Star,' he will share the origins and behind-the-scenes stories of his image as a 'specialist father actor.'

The episode, airing on the 5th, features a special 'Fashion and Passion' theme with guests Choi Won-young, Lee Tae Ran, Bada, and Martin.

During the broadcast, Choi will recount how he began receiving offers to play father roles in his mid-to-late 30s, even before he was married.

It all started with the SBS drama 'The Heirs,' written by Kim Eun-sook.

At the time, Choi was cast as the father of the male lead, but he admitted to feeling conflicted because there wasn't a significant age gap between him and the actor playing his son. However, he decided to take the role after being persuasively convinced by Kim Eun-sook, marking an unexpected turning point in his career.

Following 'The Heirs,' offers for father roles poured in.

He went on to solidify his reputation as a reliable actor for parental roles through major works such as 'Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth' and 'SKY Castle.'

In 'Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth,' he played a father searching for his lost son. The episode will bring laughter as he reveals the interesting filming anecdote involving the actor who played his son—none other than Lee Kwang-soo, who had a much larger presence than expected.

“Playing father roles actually allowed me to experience a wider range of emotions,” Choi said, noting that it was a special opportunity that expanded his acting spectrum.

The broadcast will also highlight Choi's unique sense of challenge.

He shared his experience participating in a recent 'spacing-out competition,' where he revealed a surprising result: he took 2nd place. In the finals, which included approximately 70 participants, rankings were determined by a combination of heart rate, citizen voting, and performance scores.

Rumor has it that he prepared as thoroughly as if it were a major production, even conducting rehearsals at home the day before the event.

His competition outfit also showcased his characteristic interpretative skills. To portray an office worker, he wore a unique style featuring a floral sock on one foot and a different shoe on the other.

This was a fashion statement representing a modern person whose body is at work, but whose mind dreams of freedom.

Choi explained that he meticulously considers clothing and external images when preparing for characters. If he cannot find the right mood, he will purchase items himself or even dye them to complete the character's style.

He also discussed his unconventional fashion choices at wrap-up parties following the end of productions. He noted that while he maintains a restrained look to match his character during filming, he feels a sense of liberation once the project ends, leading him to wear whatever he wants.

This has even earned him nicknames like the 'wrap-up party villain' and 'fashion leader.'

Choi married actress Shim Yi-young in 2014, and they have two daughters. Having maintained a strong presence across various genres for a long time, he continues to act as a warm father in real life and a representative father figure on screen.