Before entering to the National Assembly, he served as the 1st Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, as well as the Minister for Government Policy Coordination under the President Park Geun-hye, and the Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission under the Lee Myung-bak government.

Choo was born in Dalseong, North Gyeongsang (now under Daegu) and attended Keisung High School.

[2][3] He was sent to the World Bank in 1999 and also worked as an councillor at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 2006 to 2009.

[1][2][3][4][5] Following the 2012 presidential election, the President Park Geun-hye appointed him as the 1st Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance in March 2013.

[6][7] Prior to the 2016 election, Choo joined the Saenuri Party, along with Chong Jong-sup, who was also the Cabinet member under the President Park.