Music career
Choi Siwon was raised in a strict, Protestant family from Seoul, South
Korea. After Choi's talents were scouted in the Starlight Casting
System in 2003, his parents initially disapproved him to pursue in an
entertainment career. After consideration, his parents approved Choi to
sign under the talent agency SM Entertainment, where he was trained in
areas of singing, acting, and dancing. He made his first appearance in
a music video of The Grace's Dana when she was still a solo singer in
2003. A year after, Siwon made a brief appearance in the short drama,
Precious Family. In early 2005 Choi's talent agency released an
announcement that Choi would officially debut as a member of the large
all-boy music group, Super Junior, which was slated to make an official
debut near the end of the year. A few months before debut, Choi made
his first media appearance with Han Geng as a runway model, in a
Fashion Show F/W general idea by Bum Suk.
On November 6, 2005, Choi officially debuted on SBS's Popular Songs
with the reason of Super Junior, performing the group's first single
"TWINS (Knock Out)."
Choi is one of the few members of Super Junior who actively appears on
variety shows. Choi makes frequent appearances on Love Letter and other
popular South Korean variety programs. Choi is also a popular symbol
for endorsements, being an endorser of many items in South Korea. In
early March 2007 he has been picked up as the presenter of Thailand's
12 Plus Powder and went to Thailand several times a year to shoot the
commercial.
Acting career
Although initially trained to be a singer, Choi has made many
appearances in dramas. He made his first official drama appearance on
KBS's 18 vs. 29 in 2005, playing the role of young Kang Bo-nam. He
later joined the cast for the Korean drama mini-series Spring Waltz in
2006. Siwon's first lead role was in the mini-drama, Legend of Hyang
Dang (i-¥e?¨i ?), released on September 2007.
Choi was chosen to be part of the epic film A Battle of Wits acting
alongside Hong Kong actor and singer Andy Lau. A Battle of Wits is a
big budget film with joint collaboration from South Korea, China, and
Japan, and was released in China and Hong Kong on November 23, 2006.
The film was released in Korea in early 2007. Choi has promoted the
movie in China with a short tour of four cities at the end of
November.[1] Choi also received praises from co-star Lau, stating that
Choi is a wonderful actor and is a good example that can be set for
young Hong Kong idols.[2]
Starting 2008 Choi will be starring in another Korean language film,
"Sun Jung Man Hwa", with Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Yeon Hee, and Chae Jung An.
Choi will depict as a high school student who falls in love with Chae
Jung An, a woman much older than he.
Personal life
Choi continued his education after his debut with Super Junior. He
attended Hyun Dae High School as a teenager and later went on to attend
Inha University. A year before his debut with Super Junior he traveled
to Beijing, China to learn about the country's language and history and
stayed there for six months. Choi is also a drummer, having performed
with his senior label mates, The TRAX in September 2006 on SBS's music
show Popular Songs, due to the fact that their drummer, Rose had left
the band. Choi is nicknamed Simba by his band mate Kim Heechul. Members
joke that he has the same smile as the Joker from Batman and has the
appearance of a horse.