If you’ve spent any time in the K-drama trenches, you know that Choi Daniel is a bit of a walking contradiction. He’s got this towering 186cm frame and a face that screams "serious intellectual," but then he opens his mouth or starts moving, and you realize he’s basically a giant, lovable chaos agent. Honestly, tracking tv shows with Choi Daniel is like going on a scavenger hunt through every genre imaginable. One minute he’s a brooding detective, the next he’s a dorky office manager, and lately, he’s been reinventing himself as a variety show legend.
Most people first got hooked on him during the sitcom era. Remember High Kick Through the Roof? That was back in 2009. He played Lee Ji-hoon, and it’s the role that basically set the template for his "smart but emotionally stunted" vibe. But if you think he’s just a one-trick pony who looks good in glasses, you haven’t been paying attention to his recent pivot into reality TV or his darker, grit-heavy roles.
The Classics: From High Kick to School 2013
You can’t talk about tv shows with Choi Daniel without hitting the big milestones. After High Kick, he jumped into Baby Faced Beauty (2011) alongside Jang Na-ra. It’s a classic rom-com, but Daniel brought this weirdly frantic energy to Choi Jin-wook that made it actually watchable. He’s great at playing characters who are slightly overwhelmed by the women in their lives.
Then came School 2013. This wasn't your typical high school drama. He played Kang Se-chan, a former star lecturer who only cares about grades and money—or so he claims. Watching him butt heads with Jang Na-ra (again!) while trying to manage a classroom full of troublemakers like Lee Jong-suk and Kim Woo-bin was pure gold. It’s one of those rare shows where the teachers’ arc is just as compelling as the students’.
The Office and The Supernatural
By 2017, he gave us Jugglers. If you’ve ever had a boss who was a total ice king, this hits home. He played Nam Chi-won, a man who literally doesn’t want a secretary and hates human interaction. It’s peak "glasses-wearing Choi Daniel."
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But then he flipped the script with The Ghost Detective (2018). It’s dark. It’s creepy. He plays Lee Da-il, a private investigator who—spoiler alert—ends up as a ghost trying to solve his own murder. It showed a much heavier, more vulnerable side of him that we hadn't really seen in the rom-coms.
The 2024-2026 Variety Renaissance
Something shifted recently. While he’s still doing scripted work—like his role as the deputy editor Seok Ji-hyung in Today's Webtoon (2022) or his hilariously creepy cameo in Mask Girl (2023)—he’s become a massive star in the variety world.
In 2024, he won the Best Entertainer Award at the MBC Entertainment Awards for his stint on Omniscient Interfering View (The Manager). People were floored by how chaotic his real life is. He’s the guy who loses his keys while they’re in his hand and has a morning routine that looks like a slapstick comedy.
Running Man’s "Rental Member"
The biggest news for fans of tv shows with Choi Daniel in 2025 was his stint as a "rental member" on Running Man. He stepped in during a period when the show was experimenting with guest members, and he fit in perfectly because, as Yoo Jae-suk put it, "This guy is a total weirdo."
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He officially joined the madness in episode 747. Whether he’s failing spectacularly at a physical mission or accidentally roasting the permanent cast, his "heodang" (clumsy) energy is a breath of fresh air. He’s appeared in over 30 episodes recently, proving that his comedic timing is just as sharp as his acting.
What to Watch Right Now
If you're looking for his most recent projects, here is the breakdown of what’s currently hitting the screens:
- Sorry Not Sorry (2025): He plays Cha Hyun-woo, a lawyer. It’s a return to the "smart guy" archetype but with a 2025 twist on legal ethics.
- The Great Guide 2.5 (2025): This is a travel reality show on MBC Every1. He actually took on the role of a guide this time, traveling through places like Rwanda and Jordan. His chemistry with Jeon So-min in this series sparked a ton of dating rumors, though they’ve mostly just laughed them off.
- Sunny Day (2025 Movie): While not a TV show, this film release showed he’s still balancing the big screen with his small-screen commitments.
Why He Sticks Around
K-drama actors often have a shelf life. They’re the "it boy" for three years and then they fade. Choi Daniel hasn’t done that. He’s stayed relevant by being willing to look stupid. In a culture that prizes "image" above almost everything else, he’s happy to be the tall guy who trips over his own feet or the ghost who can’t touch anything.
He also recently established his own agency, Star Road Company, in early 2024. This move suggests he’s looking to take more control over the types of projects he picks. We're seeing fewer generic "rich heir" roles and more weird, experimental characters.
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Practical Advice for Binge-Watching
If you’re new to his filmography, don’t just watch the hits.
- Start with High Kick Through the Roof to see where the hype began.
- Jump to School 2013 for the "bromance" and the teaching drama.
- Watch his episodes of The Manager (Omniscient Interfering View) from 2024. It will completely change how you view his "serious" characters.
- Check out Today's Webtoon for a more mature, supportive mentor vibe.
If you’re hunting for his latest variety appearances, KOCOWA+ and Viki are your best bets for English subs, especially for the Running Man rental member arc. His episode 736 and 742 appearances are the perfect entry points for his variety persona. Keep an eye on his 2026 schedule—rumor has it he’s looking at a thriller series that might drop in the latter half of the year.
Next Steps: To get the full Choi Daniel experience, start by watching his "Rental Member" debut on Running Man (Episode 747). It perfectly bridges the gap between the polished actor you see in dramas and the hilarious, authentic person he actually is. If you prefer scripted stories, queue up Today's Webtoon for a feel-good weekend binge.