Choi Han-bit () is a South Korean model, actress and singer. She is a member of the South-Korean girl group Mercury. She is a graduate of the School of Dance at the Korean National University of Arts in

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

, where she majored in Korean traditional dance. With the support of her parents, Choi underwent

male-to-female sex reassignment surgery Sex reassignment surgery for male-to-female transgender women or transfeminine non-binary people describes a variety of surgical procedures that alter the body to provide physical traits more comfortable and affirming to an individual's gender ...

in 2006. She changed her given name to Han-bit, and is legally recognized as female in South Korea. In an interview, Choi said that "living with the female body itself brought me the greatest feeling of euphoria", but also that she has "a fond memory of the past before the operation". Prior to her surgery, she had appeared on the

Seoul Broadcasting System Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) () is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. The broadcaster legally became known as SBS in March 2000, changing its corporate name from Seoul Broadcasting System (서울방송). Its f ...

(SBS) television show ''

Yoo Jae-suk Yoo Jae-suk (; or ; born on 14 August 1972) is a South Korean comedian, host and television personality. He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including ''Infinite Challenge'', '' Running Man'', '' Happy Together, and ...

's Jinsil Game'' in 2005. She was a contestant on '' Korea's Next Top Model, Cycle 3'', where she ended 10th.

Career

After transitioning, Choi began to pursue her lifelong ambition of becoming a model. In 2009, she was amongst more than 1,200 applicants to the annual SBS-sponsored Super Model Contest, and gained public attention by progressing through the contest's preliminary rounds. Choi's participation drew mixed reactions from internet users and other contestants, but SBS officials stated that they would view it as a "violation of human rights" to disqualify a transgender individual whose legal sex was female. As one of the contest's 32 finalists, Choi automatically qualified as a professional model. Despite this, Choi claims to have faced discrimination in the modelling industry, having been refused participation in a fashion show without any clear reason. Since taking part in Super Model Contest, Choi has appeared on a number of television shows and has expressed a desire to become an actress. She has said that she hopes to marry around the age of thirty, and will adopt two children.

Filmography

* ''A Perfect Woman'' (2010-03-08 ~ 2010-04-26) - Herself * ''

The Princess' Man ''The Princess' Man'' () is a 2011 South Korean television series, starring Park Si-hoo, Moon Chae-won, Kim Yeong-cheol, Song Jong-ho, Hong Soo-hyun and Lee Soon-jae. It's a period drama about the forbidden romance between the daughter of Gra ...

'' (2011-07-20 ~ 2011-10-06) - Mu-yeong * ''Getting Aunt Gogong-sil'' (2011) * '' Korea's Next Top Model, Cycle 3'' (2012) - Herself (contestant)

Notes

References

External links

*
Choi Han-bit's Blog
* *
Choi Han-bit - Daum Cafe

Stershop - Daum Cafe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Han-Bit 1987 births Living people People from Gangneung 21st-century South Korean actresses 21st-century South Korean women singers 21st-century LGBT people LGBT actors from South Korea LGBT singers from South Korea South Korean female models South Korean film actresses South Korean television actresses Top Model contestants Transgender female models Transgender actresses