Choi attended Kyunggi High School in Seoul. Choi gained national attention in 2007 when he threw a 16-strikeout no-hitter in the sixteenth round of the 37th Phoenix Flag National High School Baseball Championship against Busan High School.
Upon graduation from Kyunggi High School, Choi went on to enroll at Kyung Hee University in 2008. He had mediocre freshman and sophomore seasons, and missed the entire 2010 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery at the end of 2009.
As a senior in 2011, Choi enjoyed a standout career in which he went 4-2 with a 1.36 ERA in 8 starter appearances, striking out 45 batters in 53 innings pitched. After the 2011 collegiate season, Choi was first called up to the South Korean national baseball team for the 2011 Baseball World Cup held in Panama.
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