One of the fastest-rising actors in South Korea’s drama industry is Choo Young Woo. This talented actor was born on June 5, 1999. He has graced our screens through historical, fantasy, thriller, and medical dramas ever since he debuted in 2021.

His diversity is one of the reasons why his fanbase is growing at a very fast rate because he has navigated diverse genres with surprising and amazing ease. Due to this effort, he has earned critical acclaim and several awards.

Choo Young Woo first appeared on our screen with Police University as his debut drama. He didn’t let the appearance simmer down before he came back to school in 2021. His consistency was finally rewarded when his popularity shot up with the dual role he played in The Tale of Lady Ok in 2024.

This historical romance-thriller showed his immense talent as he alternated between two characters, nobleman Sung Yoon Gyeom and Storyteller Cheon Seung Hwi, which was definitely not easy to pull off because of the difference in charisma and emotional complexity. He had to learn horseback riding and traditional singing and dancing while also battling between the separate character switches. This earned him the Best New Actor award at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards in 2025.

Following this success, he starred in the popular drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on call where he played the character Yang Jae Won, who was nicknamed “Dr. Anus” by Ju Ji Hoon because of his department in the hospital. Jae Won, a determined trauma fellow, ended up combating emergencies and hierarchies while growing under the mentorship of Ju Ji Hoon. His character was quite messy at first, but his humor made the suspense lighter as he grew to become a more confident doctor, which earned him the Best New Actor prize at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards.

In Mercy for None, he played the role of the prosecutor, Lee Geum Son, who is the son of the Juwoon gang’s boss. He was righteous in the public eye but had a dark ambition to overthrow his father and take over the gang, which he eventually did by disrupting the balance of their world, making the gangs clash.

His recently completed drama, Head Over Heels, based on a fantasy romance webtoon, is where his character, Bae Gyeon Woo, was cursed with perpetual bad luck until he got redeemed by a teen shaman who recognized him as her destined first love and came to the rescue. This drama topped the industry ranking and shot up his brand reputation in July 2025, showing how loved he is and how dedicated his fan base is.

His fans praise him for his natural expressions, effortless humor, and emotional sincerity. Even when he’s not saying anything, his face alone is enough to bring hilarious moments to life. Choo Young Woo also revealed he had failed over 100 auditions before he got his first major roles, and his fans couldn’t help but commend his resilience.

His first Asia fan meeting tour, “Who (is) Choo?”, will begin in Seoul in September 2025, as he rides his popularity across Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. With just a little over four years in his career, he has successfully starred in multiple genres to showcase his versatility, and his praise has been constant. 2025 is really his breakout year with several awards and ranking.  His tenacity has placed him as one of K‑drama’s most dynamic and compelling young leads.

Is this your first time hearing about him? Are you yet to see any of his drama? This article is a great guide for you to start with, and if you are Choo Young Woo’s fan, what drama of his is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section.