Choi Han-bit () is a South Korean model, actress and singer. She was 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 Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
, where she majored in
Korean traditional dance.
With the support of her parents, Choi underwent
male-to-female sex reassignment surgery 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 Television in South Korea, South Korean television and radio broadcasters. The broadcaster legally became known as SBS in March 2000, changing its corporate name from Seoul Broadcasting ...
(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 (South Korean TV series), R ...
's Jinsil Game'' in 2005.
She was a contestant on ''
Korea's Next Top Model season 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.
Personal life
On 18 June 2023, Choi married businessman Choi Tae-il, who is seven years older than her in
Gangneung
Gangneung (; ) is a list of cities in South Korea, municipal city in Gangwon, South Korea, Gangwon province, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved Ja ...
.
Filmography
* ''A Perfect Woman'' (2010-03-08 – 2010-04-26) – Herself
* ''
The Princess' Man'' (2011-07-20 – 2011-10-06) – Mu-yeong
* ''Getting Aunt Gogong-sil'' (2011)
* ''
Korea's Next Top Model season 3'' (2012) – Herself
(contestant)
Notes
References
External links
*
Choi Han-bit's Blog*
*
Choi Han-bit – Daum CafeStershop – Daum Cafe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Choi, Han-Bit
1987 births
Living people
Actors from Gangneung
21st-century South Korean actresses
21st-century South Korean women singers
21st-century South Korean LGBTQ people
South Korean LGBTQ singers
South Korean transgender actresses
South Korean female models
South Korean film actresses
South Korean television actresses
Top Model contestants
Transgender female models
Actresses from Gangwon Province, South Korea
Transgender women singers