Choi Jae-rim

Choi Jae-rim was born on April 29, 1985, in Suwon, South Korea, while his father was serving as a fighter pilot at Suwon Air Base. His father, Choi Mi-rak, is a retired two-star major general in the Republic of Korea Air Force. Because of his father's military career, Choi's family moved frequently. During his childhood, Choi lived in Suwon, Osan, and Cheongju, where major Air Force bases are located. He also spent about a year in Montgomery, Alabama, in the United States, near Maxwell Air Force Base. The family later relocated to Gyeryong, home to the Republic of Korea Air Force Headquarters, where Choi spent most of his youth.

Choi attended Yongnam Elementary School, Yongnam Middle School, and Yongnam High School, institutions primarily serving children from military families. He later recalled being particularly mindful of his conduct at school, as he feared that any misbehavior might reflect poorly on his father.

Raised in a devout Catholic family, Choi regularly attended church and sang in the church choir with his older brother. His involvement in church choir, alongside his mother's encouragement, influenced his decision to pursue music in higher education. He began formal vocal training during his junior year of high school and was subsequently admitted to Kyungwon University as a classical voice major, later graduating as valedictorian.

While in college, Choi completed his mandatory military service in the Republic of Korea Air Force Band as a member of the military chorus. One of his fellow chorus members was a musical theatre actor, and their long conversations sparked Choi’s interest in musical theatre. After completing his service, he sought professional training and auditioned for vocal instruction at Kolleen Park’s Kyyk Musical Academy. When he was being evaluated, the audition for the 2009 Korean production of Rent was taking place in the same building. Park and members of the production staff heard Choi singing "This Is the Moment" from Jekyll & Hyde and, impressed by his powerful voice, cast him as Tom Collins despite his lack of musical-theatre experience. The role became his professional stage debut and brought him early recognition in the South Korean musical theatre community.^[5]