"I Came Here Today as a Fellow Fan": Choi Hyun-Wook Warms ATA Festival with Boyish Charm

Actor Choi Hyun-Wook brightened the ATA festival grounds with the refreshing charm of youth. Having consistently broadened his spectrum across diverse projects with compelling, immersive performances, he captivated the crowd on this stage as well with his signature free-spirited and boyish appeal.

On the second day of the 'Asia Top Artist Festival 2026' ('ATA Festival'), held on the 20th at Nanji Hangang Park in Seoul, Choi Hyun-Wook stepped up for a talk session, warmly exchanging eye contact with attendees and sharing in the festival's vibrant energy.

Hyun-Wook drew attention with understated, natural styling tailored to the bright atmosphere. "I wanted to blend in naturally with the audience, so I went with a modest and comfortable look," he explained. When asked to choose the single word that best defines him, he did not hesitate to pick "youth." Choi added, "It feels like a word that pairs so well with a festival. It's also one of the descriptors I want to be associated with most these days when expressing who I am."

Recalling his school days, he shared with a smile, "Because I played baseball for a long time, I had a very strong athlete image back then. After quitting sports, I think I turned into a bit of a mischievous prankster," revealing his candid, approachable charm.

Having built distinctive ties to music-related projects such as the drama 'Twinkling Watermelon' and NewJeans' "Ditto" music video, Choi pointed to the guitar when asked which position he would want if he were in an actual band. "Vocals are great too, but the guitar has its own undeniable cool," he said. "I picked up the basics while preparing for Twinkling Watermelon, so I know how to play just a little," even striking an impromptu air guitar pose that drew cheers.

He also voiced enthusiasm for what lies ahead in his acting career. "Lately, I feel strongly drawn toward bright and cheerful projects," Choi noted, while adding, "Even if it isn't necessarily bright, as long as it's a genre that fans and viewers will enjoy, I want to dive in and take on all kinds of challenges. I'm always open."

Addressing the festival crowd, he left a heartfelt message: "In many ways, I came here today as a fellow attendee to have fun. Even though I'm holding a talk in between all these incredible musical acts, please don't just treat this as an intermission. I'm here to enjoy the day as a fan myself, so I hope everyone stays energetic and has a blast until the very end."

Meanwhile, hosted by Hankyung Media Group including TenAsia and Hankyung.com, 'ATA Festival' is a comprehensive K-culture festival spanning music, K-food, K-beauty, and K-fashion, held over two days from September 19 to 20.

Following day one, which featured Hi-Fi Un!corn, Kim Su-young, Lee Oh-wook, Dynamic Duo, Car, the garden, LUCY, &TEAM, and CNBLUE—the second-day lineup concluded the festival on a high note with Dragon Pony, Choi Ye-na, Choi Hyun-wook, Daybreak, Urban Zakapa, ALPHADRIVE ONE, Lee Mu-jin, KickFlip, Jannabi, and ATEEZ.