Actor Choi Hyun-wook has finally spoken up about his recent string of controversies.
On the morning of July 2, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Choi sat down for an interview about the Netflix series Notes From the Last Row, sharing insights about the project. He especially drew attention by candidly reflecting on past incidents that sparked public debate.
In 2023, a video surfaced of him smoking on the street with a woman and tossing a cigarette butt on the ground, igniting controversy. The following year, he posted a prop photo on his Instagram Story, only for his nude body to be inadvertently reflected on the item, fueling further backlash. Last year, he also threw the ceremonial first pitch at Game 1 of the KBO League postseason semifinal at Incheon SSG Landers Field, where the ball sailed over the young batter's head during the motion, drawing attention.
Addressing the issues, Choi said, "I did a lot of self-reflection. I met many good people and great seniors while filming, which makes me want to be more responsible. From now on, I want to draw viewers in through the work itself." He added, "I try to always be careful. I'm growing to love the work more and feel a stronger sense of responsibility. I really want to move forward."
Meanwhile, Notes From the Last Row is a suspense drama about Heo Moon-oh (played by Choi Min-sik), a failed writer and Korean literature professor, who discovers the genius of Lee Kang (played by Choi Hyun-wook), the boy in the very last row of his lecture hall, and becomes obsessed with his writing. In the series, Choi Hyun-wook plays the boy who always sits in the last row, exuding an enigmatic aura.
In this interview, Choi also shared his thoughts on filming a bed scene with senior actress Jin Kyung. Regarding acting opposite Jin Kyung, who is 30 years older, he said, "Because it's Moon-oh's (Choi Min-sik) imagination, I thought it was entirely plausible," adding that he discussed it extensively with the director.