Daniel Choi

Choi's mother had serious morning sickness when pregnant with his elder brother (6 years his elder), thus did not consider having a second child. His father had a vasectomy, but Choi was still conceived. His father wanted to name him Solomon, but his mother preferred Daniel, as he was considered a gift from God. As a child, his name was considered unusual, and his peers would call him "Yogi Daniel" (a famous yoga master and contortionist), and would jokingly ask him to squeeze himself into a desk. Choi's mother died when he was 5 years old. Due to few recollections of his mother, later in life, he found it difficult to act opposite his characters' mother figures. After the death of his mother and his father's business went bankrupt, he was sent to his aunt's house, while his father and brother lived with another relative. His first part-time job in high school was a gas station attendant. He quit after one semester at the Broadcasting and Acting Department of Chungwoon University, as he had enough of the experience. He was part of the university's cheerleading team. His father was in the Military Academy and his brother is a civil servant.