Choi Han-bit

Quick Facts: Who was Choi Han-bit?

Subject:

Choi Han-bit

Known for:

South Korean model, actress, and singer known for her transition and modeling career.

Born:

1987-06-16

Century / Era:

1987s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Choi Han-bit (Korean: 최한빛) 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, 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.

Career & Major Achievements

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 (SBS) television show Yoo Jae-suk's Jinsil Game in 2005. She was a contestant on Korea's Next Top Model season 3, where she ended 10th. 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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1987 (1987-06-16): Birth of Choi Han-bit — South Korean model, actress, and singer known for her transition and modeling career.
2. 2005: 2005 Milestone — Prior to her surgery, she had appeared on the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) television show Yoo Jae-suk's Jinsil Game in 2005.
3. 2006: 2006 Milestone — With the support of her parents, Choi underwent male-to-female sex reassignment surgery in 2006.
4. 2009: 2009 Milestone — 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.

Notable Quotes by Choi Han-bit

“living with the female body itself brought me the greatest feeling of euphoria”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Choi Han-bit

True or False: “Choi Han-bit was immediately accepted into the professional modeling circuit after her initial public appearances.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Despite progressing through the preliminary rounds of the Super Model Contest, she claimed to face discrimination and refusals for participation in fashion shows.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aaron Carter — Contemporary (Born in 1987) (1987): American singer and rapper known for teen pop stardom and enduring musical career.
• Afrojack — Contemporary (Born in 1987) (1987): Dutch DJ and record producer, known professionally as Afrojack.
• Ahn Jae-hyun — Contemporary (Born in 1987) (1987): South Korean actor and model known for roles in dramas like Blood and The Beauty Inside.
• Alice Bailey — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (1880): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• Andrea M. Ghez — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (1965): Pioneering astrophysicist known for studying the Milky Way's central black hole.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Akira Yoshizawa — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): Japanese origamist, credited with elevating origami from a mere craft to a recognized living art.
• Aage Bohr — Historical peer (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• 1987 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1987
• June 16 (06-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 16

Frequently Asked Questions about Choi Han-bit