Ever wondered what happened to the little sister from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before? Curious viewers of the hit Netflix rom-com trilogy need not theorize anymore, because canon now has an answer: a spin-off series titled XO, Kitty.
A now-young adult Kitty (played by Anna Cathcart) takes on South Korea, as she flies halfway across the globe to become a full-fledged student in Seoul. With a splattering of K-drama influences mixed with good old-fashioned American romantic comedies, love will fill the air, along with Kitty’s own compelling love interests.
Case in point? Kim Dae-heon, as portrayed by Hallyu’s up-and-comer Choi Min Young. But while he and Kitty make you swoon in the Netflix series, learn more about this Korean actor with our quick fact sheet below.
1. Choi Min Young is a Libra.
Min Young was born on October 9, 2002 in Seoul, South Korea.
2. Choi Min Young is a theater and film major.
After attending Kaywon Arts High School with a speciality in theater and film, Min Young continued to pursue his thespian dreams in Dankook University, where he majors in the same field.
He joins a distinguished list of students and alumni, which includes Little Women’s Choo Ja Hyun, Ji Chang Wook, Park Hae Soo, and K-pop stars like 2PM’s Taecyeon and Big Bang’s T.O.P.
3. Choi Min Young is handled by Saram Entertainment.
In April 2022, the young actor signed an exclusive deal with the Korean artist management company Saram Entertainment. Founded by Lee So Young in 2006, the agency’s artist roster boasts stellar names including Squid Game’s Jung Ho Yeon, Maze Runner’s Ki Hong Lee, Pachinko’s Kim Min Ha, and It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’s Park Gyu Young.
4. Choi Min Young made his acting debut in a children’s drama.
Before making his way into Netflix’s XO, Kitty, Min Young’s first foray into the land of Hallyu-wood was in a 2014 children’s drama titled The Magic Thousand - Character Classic. At the age of 11, he was credited in the role of Ok Dong Ja, in a series where ancient characters find themselves in the modern world, struggling to search for 10 magical beings scattered in reality.
5. Choi Min Young starred in several popular K-dramas as a child actor.
After his stint in The Magic Thousand, Min Young resumed his streak of roles in the K-drama universe. As a child actor, he frequented shows as the younger versions of several characters in Strong Girl Bong-Soon, Chicago Typewriter, Radio Romance, Mr. Sunshine, Itaewon Class, and You Are My Spring.
Meanwhile, Min Young has also took on the roles of younger brothers. Viewers can spot him in 2016’s W as the younger sibling of Kang Chul, played by Lee Jong Suk. In 2022’s Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Min Young portrays Baek Yi-hyun, the brother of Nam Joo Hyuk’s Baek Yi-jin.
6. Choi Min Young also starred in musical productions.
Aside from the small and silver screen, Min Young has graced live stages as an up-and-coming musical thespian. The young actor lent his acting prowess in the 2013 productions of Empress Myeongseong - Dageu and Bonnie and Clyde, where he played the crown prince and a young Clyde, respectively. In 2014, Min Young also appeared in the local productions of Frankenstein and Kinky Boots.
7. Choi Min Young makes his American debut in “XO, Kitty.”
The South Korea-based actor marks his Hollywood and main lead debut in Netflix’s XO, Kitty, where he stars opposite the 19-year-old Canadian actress Anna Cathcart. The spin-off follows the events of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, with a particular focus on Anna’s Kitty.
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Out of the shadows of her sister Lara (Lana Condor) and boyfriend Peter (Noah Centineo), an all-grown up Kitty ventures into Seoul, South Korea to study at an international high school, in hopes of reconnecting with her mother’s roots and her long-distance boyfriend Dae (Min Young). But once she steps foot in the Korean capital, things, she realizes, won’t be as idyllic as it seemed.
8. Choi Min Young didn’t originally play Dae.
While Min Young plays Kim Dae-heon in the 2023 XO, Kitty series, the Korean actor wasn’t the first person to portray Kitty’s cross-ocean penpal. The character first appears in the trilogy’s final film To All the Boys: Always and Forever, with Kitty stumbling upon the charming boy during a family jaunt to South Korea.
In the 2021 movie, Dae was played by Jeon Ho Young, another Korea-based actor who has also starred in several dramas including Lady Cha Dal-rae’s Lover and Yumi’s Cells. However, Ho Young gained significant popularity during his stint in the the K-pop idol survival show Boys Planet.
While there isn’t an official explanation for Dae’s recasting, it’s likely that a scheduling conflict arose with his regular appearance in the reality show and the potential debut in the group ZEROBASEONE.
9. Choi Min Young talked about the differences between filming in America and Korea.
The list of Korean actors starring in Hollywood productions are growing more than ever, so it isn’t a surprise that comparisons between the two industries will begin to pop up. Min Young is one who raised some points in the conversation during an interview with the American publication J-14.
“It’s always interesting to explore a new world and have different experiences,” he said.
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“But what definitely was different was in the states, you have different directors for different blocks,” Min Young stated. “In Korea, we have one director for a show. That was really interesting for me and a new experience.”
10. You can follow Choi Min Young on Instagram.
Get to know the burgeoning Hallyu and Hollywood star by tapping “follow” on his Instagram!
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