Choi Jong-hoon

Choi Jong-hoon (Korean: 최종훈, pronounced [tɕʰø dʑoŋɦuːn]; born March 7, 1990) is a South Korean former musician and actor. He served as the leader, guitarist, and keyboardist of rock band F.T. Island from its debut in 2007 until his retirement from the entertainment industry in 2019.

In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.
Choi Jong-hoon
Choi in 2012
Background information
Born (1990-03-07) March 7, 1990
Seoul, South Korea
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Guitar
  • keyboard
  • vocals
Years active2007–2019
Labels
Formerly of
Websitefncent.com/ftisland/
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationChoe Jong-hun
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Chonghun

On March 14, 2019, Choi retired from the entertainment industry, amidst allegations of being involved in bribery and sharing of illicit sex videos and pictures, a part of the Jung Joon-young KakaoTalk chatrooms, first revealed in the Burning Sun scandal.[1][2] On November 29, 2019, Choi was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison.[3][4]

Early life and education

Choi Jong-hoon was born in Seoul, South Korea on March 7, 1990,[5] according to the solar calendar, and February 6 according to the lunar calendar.[6] He attended the Shindongshin Middle Information Industry High School. During his high school years, he was accepted into the FNC Music talent agency, which later formed the band F.T. Island with Jong-hoon as its leader and guitarist.

Choi attended University of Suwon, majoring in digital music alongside former band member Oh Won Bin.[7]

Career

Music career
Main article: F.T. Island

In January 2009, members Choi Jong-hoon, Choi Minhwan, and Lee Jaejin were put into the sub group "A3". This group debuted at the 2009 New Year concert "My First Dream" held at the JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan on January 2, 2009. Choi performed as the guitarist and a sub-vocalist. The group's name was "A3" due to each of the three members having type A blood. This group was formed to help take up some singing time during their concerts, so that lead singer, Lee Hong-gi, would not overstrain his voice.[8]

In 2019, Choi's agency announced that he will be leaving F.T. Island and retiring from the entertainment industry.[9]

Television and acting

Choi began making cameos and guest appearances on many television series starting in 2008. Together with Song Seung-hyun, he starred in Style Wave in December 2009 and January 2010.[10] In this show, stars discuss major style trends and dress a shopper according to a chosen style theme.

Choi participated in episode 15 of Seoul Broadcasting System's Idol Maknae Rebellion (아이돌 막내반란시대) with fellow band member Seung-hyun, who was a cast member of the show; the episode aired on February 15, 2010. He made his acting debut as a supporting character in the film You're My Pet (2011) starring actors Jang Keun-suk and Kim Ha-neul.[11] Based on the Japanese manga Tramps Like Us, Choi plays the younger brother of Kim's character. The film centers around a woman living with her human pet.[12]

In December 2012, Choi joined the second season of tvN's The Romantic & Idol.[13]

Choi was cast as the lead character Park Shi-hyun in the web drama Prince's Prince (2015). Seo Yu-na of girl group AOA, who plays his onscreen younger sister Yu-na, Lim Yoon-ho as Lee Mong-ryong, also played co-leads. Based on the webtoon of the same name, the series revolves around Shi-hyun's sister and her immersion into video games.[14] As a first-time lead role, Choi remarked during a press conference prior to filming, "I previously did a bit of acting, but I should carefully and cautiously undertake this role".[15] He also starred in the drama Heroes and Unexpected Heroes (2017).[16][17][18]

Other activities

With fellow band member Song Seung-hyun, Choi modeled at the 2009 Autumn Seoul Fashion Week on October 17, 2009 for Lee Ju Young, the designer of the "Resurrection" collection.[19] On June 29, 2009, he was featured with Core Contents Media's soloist Hong Jin Young as one of the main characters in her music video "Love Battery". In August, he participated in episode 19 of MNet Scandal.[20]

Controversies
Main articles: Burning Sun scandal and Jung Joon-young KakaoTalk chatrooms

Allegations and departure

In March 2019, Choi was revealed to be a member of an online group chat that shared sexually explicit videos of women filmed without their knowledge or consent, together with celebrities Lee Jong-hyun and Jung Joon-young. He was also reported to have bribed the police in order to prevent newspapers from covering a drunk driving incident he was involved in 2016. Subsequently, his agency announced that he will be leaving F.T. Island and retiring from the entertainment industry.[9]

In April 2019, police booked Choi for illegally filming women without their consent, distributing a total of six videos, and bribery to cover up his drunk-driving incident.[21][22] On April 11, 2019, Choi admitted to spreading hidden camera photos taken without consent and also filming illegal hidden camera footage. He was charged with one count of sharing personally taken illegal footage and five counts of sharing footage from other sources.[23]

Sentence to prison

On April 19, 2019, a woman came forward to SBS funE, claiming that five men including Choi, had raped her after she was intoxicated in March 2016, and then shared the footage in a group chat. Choi denied the allegation, but admitted that he and the woman were together on that day.[24][25] On May 10, 2019, Choi was arrested on the gang rape allegations and was indicted on charge of taking part in a gang rape in 2016.[26][27] On November 29, 2019, Choi was sentenced to five years in prison.[3][4] On May 12, 2020, Seoul High Court reduced his sentence from five years to two and half years after reaching an agreement with one of the victims.[28] On November 8, 2021, it was reported that Choi was released from prison.[29]

Filmography

Television series
YearNetworkTitleRoleNotes
2008SBSOn AirHimselfCameo (Ep. 1)
2009SBSStyleHimselfCameo (Ep. 6)
2012–2013tvNRomantic & Idol Season 2HimselfCast member
2013–2014tvNCheongdam-dong 111HimselfReality show
2015 Naver TV cast, KBS2Prince's PrincePark Shi-hyunLead role, web drama
JTBCHeroesChoi Hee-yeolLead role
2017SBSLaw of the JungleHimselfSumatra Guest (Ep. 261 - 264)
Naver TV CastUnexpected HeroesMin Su-hoWeb-drama
2018MBNReal Life Men and WomenHimselfCast member

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011You're My PetJi Eun-sooSupporting role

Music video appearances
Year Title Artist Ref.
2015 "Already Winter" Vromance feat. Huh Gak [30]

Discography
See also: F.T. Island discography

Guest appearances
Title Year Release Ref.
"Wish Ver.2" (소망 Ver.2; Somang Ver.2) 2009 Errand

References
  1. "K-pop scandal: Two more artists, Choi Jong-hoon and Junhyung, quit show business". The Straits Times. March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  2. Gyu-lee, Lee (22 March 2019). "Agency kicks out F.T. Island member". Korea Times.
  3. "K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon sentenced for rape". BBC. November 29, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  4. "K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon sentenced to prison for rape". ABC News. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  5. Mark Russell (29 April 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  6. "Profile" (in Japanese). FTISLAND. Archived from the original on 2009-03-04.
  7. 새내기 오원빈-최종훈, 나란히 전자디지털음악학과 입학! (in Korean). Newsen. 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  8. "[공식입장] FT아일랜드 측 "최종훈 '정글' 후발대 합류, 2월 출국"". entertain.naver.com (in Korean).
  9. "K-pop rocked by new scandal, fans ask FT Island's leader Choi Jong-hoon to quit". The Straits Times. March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  10. "FTIsland brings K-pop mania anew in Manila". Manila Bulletin. 2010-02-22. Archived from the original on 2010-03-01.
  11. Choi, Min-ji (February 16, 2011). FT 아일랜드 최종훈, 장근석-김하늘 주연 '너는 펫' 출연 확정. TV Daily (in Korean). Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  12. Gil, Hye-seong (March 4, 2011). "ko:'배우 데뷔' 최종훈 "출연 정해졌을 때 떨었다"". Starnews (in Korean). MT Media Group. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  13. "FT Island's Choi Jong-hoon Dated Two Celebrities Since His Debut". Soompi. 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  14. Yoon, So-hee (February 6, 2015). 웹드라마 '프린스의 왕자', FT아일랜드 최종훈 AOA 유나 캐스팅. 10asia (in Korean). Korea Entertainment Media. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  15. Lee, Woo-in (February 9, 2015). '셜록K' 최종훈 "연기자로도 새출발, 두마리 토끼 잡겠다". TVreport (in Korean). Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  16. "[현장] '뜻밖의 히어로즈' 최종훈-이민혁 "김소혜, 실제로 보니 더 러블리"". 서울경제 (in Korean). 13 December 2017.
  17. "'프린스의 왕자' 최종훈, 이런 게 '만찢남'의 정석". SBS NEWS (in Korean). 2 June 2015.
  18. 재배포금지>, <ⓒ “텐아시아” 무단전재 (27 December 2017). "| '뜻밖의 히어로즈' 최종훈, 화려한 액션에 직진 고백까지 '매력 방출'텐아시아". 텐아시아 (in Korean).
  19. 패션쇼 오른 최종훈, 당당하게 걷기~ (in Korean). Newsen. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  20. "MNet Scandal Featuring FT Island Jong-hoon Slammed For Too Much Skinship". Soompi. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  21. "Seungri charged over embezzlement". The Straits Times. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  22. "Choi Jong-Hoon Booked With Additional Charges of Filming Illicit Videos". E Online. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  23. "Roy Kim, Eddy Kim & Choi Jong Hoon admit to sharing illegally taken photos". SBS Australia. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  24. Park, Ju-young (April 19, 2019). "Jung Joon-young, Choi Jong-hoon accused of taking part in gang rape: report". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  25. "[단독] '집단 성폭행 의혹' 최종훈 출국금지...내주 소환". YTN (in Korean). April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  26. "Singer Choi Jong-hoon Arrested for Alleged Gang Rape". KBS World. May 10, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  27. Kim, Seung-jae (May 10, 2019). "Boy Band Member Arrested for Rape". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  28. "Disgraced K-pop stars get shortened jail terms for spycam, gang rape crimes". South China Morning Post. 2020-05-12. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  29. Jeong Hee-yeon (November 8, 2021). "강간범' 최종훈, 오늘(8일) 만기출소 [DA:투데이]" [‘Rapist’ Choi Jong-hoon, released from prison today (8th) [DA: Today]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved November 8, 2021 – via Naver.
  30. Charted songs:
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