National actor Choi Bool-am dies at 87 after 67-year career

Veteran actor Choi Bool-am passed away at 10:30 p.m. on the 29th at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, following a decline in health after spinal surgery last March. The actor, who debuted in 1959, was well known for his long-running roles in 'Chief Inspector' and 'Country Diaries.'

Actor Choi Bool-am has brought his 67-year acting career to a close. A national actor who portrayed the face of a righteous detective as Chief Park Young-han in 'Chief Inspector' and represented the life of an ordinary rural patriarch as Chairman Kim in 'Country Diaries,' he has passed away at the age of 87.

Choi passed away at 10:30 p.m. on the 29th while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Born Choi Young-han in Incheon in 1939, his health had declined following spinal surgery last March, leading to his departure from the KBS1 program 'Korean Cuisine and Dining,' which he had hosted for 14 years. While he subsequently focused on rehabilitation and health management, his condition recently worsened, requiring hospitalization.

Having debuted in the stage play 'Hamlet' in 1959, the late actor built his acting career on the stage through the Experimental Theater Society. He began his formal broadcasting career after being selected as a 6th generation talent through a special recruitment by Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS) in 1967. Leveraging the solid acting skills and heavy presence developed on stage, he established his own domain in TV dramas and remained at the center of Korean popular culture for decades.

The work that deeply etched his name into the public memory was the MBC drama 'Chief Inspector.' In this series, which began in 1971, Choi met viewers for 18 years in the role of Chief Park Young-han. His portrayal of a steadfast yet human detective became a symbol of crime investigation dramas at the time. Beyond a mere detective solving cases, he created a character that looked into social injustices and the human psyche, leaving Park Young-han as a representative character in Korean TV drama history.

He opened another era of prosperity playing the role of Chairman Kim in the MBC drama 'Country Diaries,' which premiered in 1980. Leading the production for 22 years, he captured the lives of rural communities and the meaning of family. The image of Chairman Kim, possessing both authority and warmth, gained empathy across generations, and Choi established himself as a familiar neighbor and family-like figure to the nation. While the principled detective of 'Chief Inspector' and the dependable patriarch of 'Country Diaries' were different individuals, both works remain symbols of his acting life.

The late actor's activities were not limited to dramas. He participated in broadcasts addressing social issues by hosting the KBS program 'Campaign Headquarters for a Better Country' for 10 years, and he introduced food from various regions and the lives of the people within them by leading 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' for 14 years. His accumulated sense of trust and serious manner of speech were crucial elements that formed the identity of these programs. Beyond being an actor, he expanded his scope by consistently communicating with the public as a host.

His dedication to child welfare and marginalized neighbors was also an inseparable part of his life. Having become interested in the reality of children in need of protection through various episodes of 'Country Diaries,' he formed a connection with ChildFund Korea and has worked for child welfare since the 1980s. He served for a long time as the National Fundraising Chairman for ChildFund Korea and, most recently, served as the chairperson of the incorporated association Zero Camp, supporting juvenile offenders. His actions left a meaningful impact outside of his works by extending the public influence gained as an actor into social responsibility.

The funeral altar has been prepared at the Asan Medical Center mortuary, where mourners will be received from 10 a.m. on the 30th. The funeral will be held with the dignity befitting the head of ChildFund Korea. Discussions are underway for Hwang Young-key, the chairman of ChildFund Korea, to serve as the funeral committee chair, with former Prime Ministers Lee Soo-sung and Lee Nak-yon among those being considered as committee members. His bereaved family includes actress Kim Min-ja, son Dong-nyeok, and daughter Dong-bi.

Choi Bool-am was an actor who resided in the daily lives and memories of Koreans for a long time, moving beyond being a popular actor of a single era. He spoke of justice with the face of a steadfast detective, conveyed the values of family and community as a rural patriarch, and recorded the lives of the nation as a broadcaster. Although his 67-year acting career has ended, the characters and voice he left behind will live on in the memories of viewers, transcending a single page of Korean popular culture.

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