Old Boy Star to Return to the Small Screen

Veteran Korean star Choi Min-sik (Oldboy, New World) may make a return to the small screen, as it’s confirmed by his agency he is actively considering a role to star in the tv series Casino, which is to be directed and scripted by Kang Yun-sung (The Outlaws). If he accepts the role, it will mark a 24 year absence from the small screen.

Known to most as a film star, Choi was last seen in Love and Parting, which aired from 1997 to 1998. The actor most recently appeared in Im Sang-soo’s Heaven: To the Land of Happiness alongside Park Hae-il, which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, but is yet to screen officially.

KANG Yun-sung, debuted as a filmmaker with 2017’s explosive crime thriller film The Outlaws, starring; Don Lee and Yoon Kye-sang, which took the Chuseok Holiday Crown in 2017 and followed that up with the election drama, Long Live the King, last year.

Filming for Casino is expected to start next year, with the series to air towards the end of 2021.

Why This Comeback Matters

Choi Min-sik is a household name in Korea and a cult legend globally. His role in Oldboy—as the wrongfully imprisoned, vengeance-seeking Oh Dae-su—cemented his reputation as one of the most intense and compelling actors in world cinema. The film won the Grand Prix at Cannes and is widely considered a masterpiece of Korean neo-noir.

Since then, Choi has starred in critically acclaimed films such as:

• I Saw the Devil (2010)

• New World (2013)

• Lucy (2014) — alongside Scarlett Johansson

• The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) — Korea’s all-time highest-grossing film

His most recent work, Heaven: To the Land of Happiness, directed by Im Sang-soo, was selected for the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.

What We Know About Casino

The drama Casino will be helmed by Kang Yun-sung, who made a splash with his 2017 debut The Outlaws, starring Don Lee (Ma Dong-seok) and Yoon Kye-sang. That film dominated Korea’s Chuseok box office, and Kang followed it up with the political crime drama Long Live the King.

With Kang’s knack for gritty, high-stakes storytelling and Choi’s commanding screen presence, Casino is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated series of the year.

• 🎬 Director/Writer: Kang Yun-sung

• 🎭 Lead Actor (TBD): Choi Min-sik

• 📺 Genre: Crime / Action / Thriller

• 🎥 Filming Starts: 2021

• 📡 Airing Date: Expected late 2021

Don’t Miss the Role That Made Choi a Global Star

While you wait for Casino, now’s the perfect time to revisit Choi Min-sik’s unforgettable performance in Oldboy—a film that redefined modern revenge thrillers.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a longtime fan of Korean cinema or just discovering the genius of Choi Min-sik, his return to TV is big news. With Casino, we might just witness another career-defining performance. Stay tuned!