Choi Min-sik lahir di [[Seoul]], Korea Selatan.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Jobling |first=Alison |title=Profil Choi Min Sik - Korean Chameleon |url=httphttps://www.yesasiainnalar.com/ushiburan/yumchapr-3676128205/0profil-0dan-0biodata-arid.29choi-en/featuredmin-article.htmlsik-sosok-raja-kasino-yang-terjerat-kasus-pembunuhan-dalam-drama-korea-big-bet |accessdate=NovemberDecember 2118, 20122022 |work=[[YesAsiaInnalar.com]] |date=AprilDecember 3018, 20052022}}</ref> Ketika ia masih bersekolah di kelas tiga, ia didiagnosis menderita [[tuberkulosis]] dan diberitahu bahwa penyakitnya tidak dapat disembuhkan. Ia kemudian mengaku telah mendapatkan kembali kesehatannya dengan tinggal selama sebulan di pegunungan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sunwoo |first=Carla |title=Actor Choi Min-sik reveals that he nearly died in grade three |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/html/642/2947642.html |accessdate=November 21, 2012 |work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |date=January 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130127012433/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/html/642/2947642.html |archivedate=January 27, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
