Veteran South Korean actor Choi Jung-woo passed away on May 27 at the age of 69, his agency BLA Entertainment confirmed Tuesday.

The exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed, though Choi had reportedly been battling panic disorder and depression in recent years.

Choi continued to be active in the entertainment industry until his death, making numerous TV appearances in shows such as MBN's Dongchimi and KBS's AM Plaza, where he openly discussed his personal affairs.

Choi had previously been married three times, he said in a frank interview in October. "My first wife registered our marriage without my knowledge," he said.

His second marriage, arranged by his parents, ended in divorce, during which he relinquished all his assets.

Speaking humorously about his current marriage, he said, "I'm under the thumb of my wife, who's 11 years younger than me."

Reflecting on a darker period in his life, Choi recounted a business failure that led to aphasia and a time of isolation in the mountains.

"Theater brought me back to life. Acting is the path that changed my life," he said, and you could feel his devotion to his profession.

Choi was born in 1957 and made his acting debut in 1975 with the stage play "A Life of an Actor" (tentative title).

He spent several years with the Shinsi Theater Company, earning acclaim as a stage and voice actor before transitioning to television and film.

Choi was popular for his intense acting in various dramas, including Soul Mechanic, A Place in the Sun, Matrimonial Chaos, The Legend of the Blue Sea, and Five Enough.

He also has appeared in The Witch, V.I.P., Deranged, and The Front Line.

Choi's funeral altar has been set up at Kimpo Woori Hospital's Funeral Hall. The funeral service is scheduled for May 29 at 10 a.m.

As fans and colleagues remember Choi Jung-woo's legacy, they honor an actor who poured his soul into every performance, both on stage and on screen.