Actor Choo Young-woo has revealed that he made a major lifestyle change while juggling nonstop projects completely cutting out alcohol and coffee to protect his health.
In a recent interview held on December 24 in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Choo Young-woo spoke candidly about the physical toll of working without long breaks and how it pushed him to rethink his daily habits.
“I Thought I Might Seriously Collapse”
When asked about exhaustion from continuous filming schedules, Choo admitted that the strain was unavoidable.
“There’s physical fatigue, so I try to make up for it in other ways,” he shared, before revealing, “I haven’t had alcohol for three months. I also completely quit coffee — I’ve only been drinking decaf for the past three months.”
He explained that chronic lack of sleep was the breaking point. With early call times often requiring him to wake up between 4 and 5 a.m., Choo said he reached a moment of clarity.
“I thought, ‘If I keep drinking and having coffee like this, I might actually get sick.’ So I decided I’d rather just lose sleep — and cut everything else out.”
A Career Peak That Required Discipline
Choo Young-woo has rapidly risen as a leading young actor through dramas such as The Tale of Lady Ok, Trauma Center, and The Cowherd and the Fairy. His latest film, Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight, marks his first leading role on the big screen.
In the film, he plays Jae-won, a young man who enters a fake relationship with Seo-yoon, a girl who loses her memories every day. The emotionally restrained role demanded subtle expressions — something Choo said he became more aware of while watching himself on the big screen.
“Seeing my face on the screen felt strange,” he admitted. “But I realized that even small internal emotions come across clearly on a large screen. It made me want to be more precise with close-up shots next time.”
Staying Grounded Despite the Spotlight
Despite being labeled a “rising star,” Choo responded with humility. He credited the appeal of his characters rather than his own abilities, saying he doesn’t believe the attention comes from him being exceptionally remarkable, but from the roles he’s been fortunate to play.
Now feeling healthier thanks to his lifestyle reset, Choo shared that his sleep quality has improved significantly — a small but meaningful victory amid a demanding schedule.
As Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight hits theaters on December 24, Choo Young-woo’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the discipline and self-awareness behind his fast-growing career.
Editor’s Insight
Choo Young-woo’s “decaf and sobriety” era is a fascinating look at the high-stakes reality for rising stars in 2026. While most actors his age are seen at high-profile after-parties, Choo’s admission that he feared he might “seriously collapse” highlights the extreme physical demands of a “nonstop” filming schedule. By choosing to “rather just lose sleep” than rely on chemical crutches like caffeine, he’s essentially bio-hacking his way to a longer career.
From a performance standpoint, this discipline was visible in his role as Jae-won. Playing opposite a character who loses her memory every day required a level of “emotional restraint” and “precision in close-ups” that is hard to maintain when you’re physically depleted. Critics noted that his eyes in the film held a depth that wasn’t there in his earlier work—perhaps a direct result of that improved sleep quality he mentioned.
As we move further into 2026, Choo is currently reaping the rewards of his health-first approach. His upcoming project, “The Cowherd and the Fairy,” is one of the most anticipated dramas of the second half of the year. He’s no longer just a “rising star” who got lucky with good roles; he’s a professional who has learned that the best way to stay at the top is to make sure your body can actually get you there.