Famous musical actor Choi Jae-rim made it clear that he still has no plans to participate in the ‘after-work culture’.
The after-work culture is an event where fans wait near the theater to meet and communicate with the actors as they leave after a performance. Fans wait for the actors at the entrance or parking lot of the theater, and the actors greet them and have brief conversations. During this time, gifts, letters, photo requests, and autograph requests are often made.
Choi Jae-rim’s agency, Phoenix Entertainment, stated on social media (SNS) on the 22nd, “Actor Choi Jae-rim has not participated in after-work culture for several years,” explaining that “this is in line with the actor’s desire to meet the audience on a well-prepared stage.”
The agency further stated, “Despite this announcement, some audience members occasionally engage in behaviors similar to after-work culture after performances, causing inconvenience to other audience members and actors, and potentially creating dangerous situations,” and added, “While the solution is voluntary participation from all audience members, if this continues to be uncontrolled, we will actively look for other solutions.”
The agency reiterated its stance on not conducting after-work activities, stating, “We ask for your understanding that actor Choi Jae-rim does not personally receive any gifts, including handwritten letters, upon leaving.”
Lastly, the agency requested the cooperation of all audience members “to prevent actors from being put in awkward situations due to the sudden actions of some audience members” and expressed the hope that the audience “deeply understands the actor’s intention to fully express his desire to communicate with the audience on stage.”
Previously, Choi Jae-rim stated from 2022, “I will not engage in after-work culture and will only accept the feelings of the fans.”
Choi Jae-rim has proven his stage skills by appearing in major productions such as musicals ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Les Misérables’, and ‘Jekyll & Hyde’. He established himself as a representative musical actor in Korea by winning the Best Actor Award at the 3rd Korea Musical Awards in 2019. Choi Jae-rim is also known to be a favorite student of musical music director Park Kal-in.
