‘It Wasn’t Park Bo-gum or IU’—The Beating Heart of When Life Gives You Tangerines Is This Scene-Stealing Actor

Actor Choi Dae-hoon, who plays the intense and unforgettable captain Bu Sang-gil in Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines, is quickly becoming a fan favorite—thanks to both his magnetic on-screen presence and his touching appearance on the April 23 episode of You Quiz on the Block (Ep. 290).

In When Life Gives You Tangerines, led by IU and Park Bo-gum, Choi portrays the squid-fishing boat captain Bu Sang-gil, whose gruff exterior and memorable catchphrase “Hahk-ssi!” turned him into a viral sensation among viewers. His villainous yet oddly endearing role earned him the nickname “Hahk-ssi Ahjussi” online. A short YouTube clip titled "Ironclad Gwan-sik Still in Love, and Hahk-ssi Ahjussi" on Netflix’s official channel has already surpassed 550K views, a testament to his rising popularity.

On Yoo Jae-suk's You Quiz on the Block, Choi opened up about his personal life, revealing a deeply emotional side. He expressed gratitude toward his wife, former Miss Korea Jang Yoon-seo, recalling how he once gave her only 1 million KRW (~$740) for living expenses during their early days of marriage. “I told her to give me 12 years. She waited. I’m grateful,” he shared, visibly moved. “Now she’s really happy, and seeing her like that brings me to tears.”

He also shared a vulnerable moment from fatherhood, explaining how the birth of his daughter pushed him to advocate for himself professionally for the first time. “I’ve always been shy about negotiating, but when my wife was pregnant, I finally said, ‘Please give me more.’ That’s when I first learned to push for what I’m worth,” he said with a smile.

Choi also reflected on the pressure of portraying Bu Sang-gil through different life stages—from youth to old age—confessing he feared the elderly character would come across as a caricature. To prepare, he studied older men’s movements in parks and on public transport. He revealed that elements of his own late father shaped his portrayal. “The outfit in the bicycle scene… it was exactly what my father used to wear. I stood staring at it, shocked, before putting it on.”

He went on to share a heartbreaking story: his father suffered a stroke and brain hemorrhage while sleeping. “I thought he was just resting on the floor. I covered him with a blanket, but by the time we found out, the golden hour had passed,” he recalled. His father remained in a vegetative state for 11 years and passed away during the pandemic after contracting COVID-19 in a care facility—while Choi was unable to visit.

Choi Dae-hoon’s raw honesty and grounded charm are capturing the attention of a growing audience, proving that sometimes it’s not the leads but the “scene stealers” who leave the deepest mark.

You Quiz on the Block airs Wednesdays at 8:45 PM KST on tvN.

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