Minseok Choi is a pioneering korean ukulele jazz musician, recognized for his deep musicality and innovative approach to the instrument. He is strongly influenced by Hawaiian virtuosos such as Herb Ohta, Lyle Ritz, Benny Chong, and Byron Yasui, whose jazz-infused styles greatly influenced his playing.

In 2014, he spent seven months in Hawaii, studying under ukulele masters including Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Dr. Trey, Herb Ohta Jr., and Kalei Gamiao. Upon returning to Korea, he became actively involved in ukulele performance and education. However, his passion for jazz extended beyond the ukulele, drawing him toward the works of great jazz musicians such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis.

Driven by an increasing desire to learn jazz improvisation, he sought formal education in the genre. Since jazz schools in Korea did not accept ukulele as a primary instrument, he applied to Berklee College of Music in Boston. In a groundbreaking achievement, he became the first student in Berklee’s history to be admitted with the ukulele as his principal instrument.

From 2018 to 2021, Minseok majored in Performance at Berklee, honing his improvisational skills and solidifying his identity as a jazz musician. Since graduating, he has been actively performing in jazz clubs in Korea and Japan, proving that the ukulele has a rightful place in the jazz scene.

In 2025, he released his debut solo EP Hawai‘i Nostalgia through Lele Music Production. Though he was born and raised in Korea, Choi considers Hawai‘i his home of the heart, and the album reflects his deep affection for the island, the ukulele, and jazz itself.

With his deep-rooted passion for jazz and the ukulele, Minseok Choi continues to push boundaries, bridging cultures and redefining the possibilities of his instrument on the global jazz stage.​