'Drinking Controversy' Choi Cheol-ho Says, "I Quit My Parcel Loading and Unloading Job That Paid 3.4 Million Won a Month"... A Surprise Update Ahead of His TV Comeback?

[Financial News] Actor Choi Cheol-ho, who halted his career after controversies over assaulting a colleague and drunken misconduct, shared an update on his life. He supported himself through parcel loading and unloading work before establishing himself as an acting instructor.
According to the YouTube channel 'What Are You Doing These Days' on the 18th, Choi appeared in a video released on the 17th and spoke candidly about his rise to fame, subsequent downfall and efforts to rebuild his career.
Choi made his acting debut in 1990 in the play 'Nim's Silence' and became widely known for playing Shin Ma-jeok in the 2002 drama 'Rustic Period.' He later appeared in 'Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-sin,' 'Dae Jo-yeong' and 'My Wife Is a Super Woman.'
However, he halted his activities after allegations that he had assaulted a junior colleague and the revelation that his explanation was false. While lying low in 2014, he damaged another person's vehicle while intoxicated and was questioned by police.
Referring to the period when he appeared in 'My Wife Is a Super Woman,' Choi said, "The measure of whether an actor has truly made it is commercials, and I filmed about six or seven commercials for 'My Wife Is a Super Woman.'"
He explained, "Normally, I couldn't bring myself to say unpleasant things to other people, but when I drank, I would change 180 degrees and let everything out. I had that kind of drinking problem. A fortune-teller told me that things would go well if I quit drinking, so I stopped for two years and created an opportunity for a comeback with 'Empress Cheonchu.' However, I became arrogant while choosing projects and started drinking again."
After paying contract penalties and suffering a string of business failures, he gave up his home and sent his family to his in-laws' house. He reportedly moved between motels and church accommodations.
Regarding his parcel loading and unloading work, Choi said, "I thought people wouldn't recognize me if I wore a hat and a mask, so I worked from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day, from Monday night through early Saturday morning. I continued living that way for six months, earning roughly 3.4 million won a month."
He also explained how he came to appear on MBN's 'Teukjong Sesang.' He said, "While I was living with a roommate to save on rent, a writer from MBN contacted me. At first, I said I wouldn't do it, but my roommate persuaded me, saying, 'Choi Cheol-ho, you didn't do anything bad, and you're trying to work hard to get by. What do you think? They're going to pay you, aren't they?'"
He continued, "They said it would be 1.5 million won for three episodes, or something like that. When I did the math, it was an amount I would have to work at least nine or 10 days loading and unloading parcels to earn, so I was immediately interested. That led me to film a program that revealed my parcel-work job."
In 2021, an appearance on a web variety show led to Choi being recruited as both a promotional model and an employee for a cruise company, prompting him to leave the logistics center. However, in 2022, he caused a disturbance while intoxicated in the hallway of the company's CEO's home and was arrested at the scene on charges including trespassing.
He also expressed his regret and gratitude toward his family, saying, "I hurt my wife, who believed in me and endured with me, far too much. I am a sinner."
He now teaches students in the acting department at a vocational school in Suwon and is also working on producing web dramas. He has even won a Best Director award at a film festival for a short film he directed and starred in.
Choi said, "Thankfully, I was recently offered a role in a historical drama on a general programming channel, and I've begun preparing for it." If the appearance is confirmed, it will mark his return to television after about seven years.

[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter