National actor Choi Bool-am dies at 87

Renowned actor Choi Bool-am passed away at approximately 10:30 p.m. on the 29th at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Known as a "national actor," Choi had been undergoing rehabilitation for deteriorating health before his death.

Choi Bool-am, an actor who led an era of Korean popular culture and was hailed as a "national actor" and "national father," has passed away at the age of 87. As news of his death spreads, memories of his long acting career and representative works are being recalled, and a special anecdote he once shared regarding the late First Lady Yuk Young-soo is gaining renewed attention. The story involves the popularity of the drama 'Chief Inspector' reaching the Blue House, leading Yuk Young-soo to personally call the actor's home to request a reduction in his smoking scenes.

Choi passed away at approximately 10:30 p.m. on the 29th while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He had been focusing on rehabilitation due to deteriorating health but was ultimately unable to recover. The funeral will be held at the Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Seoul, with the service conducted in connection with his long-standing relationship with ChildFund Korea, where he served as chairperson.

The anecdote resurfacing with his passing was revealed on the MBC program 'The Return of the Legendary Chief Inspector' aired in April 2024. During the broadcast, Choi recalled a Sunday in 1974 when his representative work, 'Chief Inspector', was enjoying nationwide popularity. While spending a normal holiday, his wife informed him that a call had come from the Blue House auxiliary office, and he said he was startled by the unexpected voice on the other end.

"I was waiting awkwardly after picking up, then I heard laughter and she said, 'It's me, Yuk Young-soo.' I stood up abruptly," Choi recalled. While the situation of the First Lady calling personally was disconcerting, the content of the call was even more unexpected. Rather than political or social issues, Yuk Young-soo expressed interest in the smoking scenes of the protagonist, Inspector Park.

Yuk Young-soo asked Choi, "How many cigarettes do you smoke?" When Choi replied, "I smoke four," she responded, "Oh, please just do two." It was a request based on the premise that the smoking scenes in the drama appeared too frequently. Choi explained that former President Park Chung-hee also enjoyed watching 'Chief Inspector' on TV and would smoke along whenever Choi smoked in the drama. It was essentially Yuk Young-soo stepping in to request fewer smoking scenes out of concern for her husband's health.

Choi also shared the President's reaction during the call. "Over the phone, the President said, 'You are talking about such useless things,'" he said, noting it is a memory he has never forgotten. The story serves as an interesting behind-the-scenes look at how deeply a single drama permeated the daily lives of viewers and how it became a topic of conversation even within the household of the highest power at the time.

Born in 1939, Choi began his acting career through the stage play 'Hamlet' in 1959. From 1971 to 1989, he portrayed Inspector Park Yeong-han in the MBC drama 'Chief Inspector', building the image of an upright yet human detective. His performance, which infused the tension of crime investigations with the sorrows of ordinary people and an understanding of humanity, left a strong impression on viewers. Beyond being a mere detective in a drama, Inspector Park became an iconic figure representing Korean TV crime dramas.

He created another legend appearing as Chairman Kim in the MBC drama 'Country Diaries', which aired from 1980 to 2002. By portraying a village elder and the center of a family with his characteristic gentle and heavy acting, he earned the nickname "national father." He was also evaluated as an actor spanning period dramas and family dramas, demonstrating his presence in works covering major scenes of modern Korean history, such as 'The 1st Republic', 'Eyes of Dawn', 'You and I', and 'Age of Heroes'.

In addition to his broadcasting activities, he consistently contributed to social welfare. From 2011 to 2025, he hosted 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' on KBS 1TV, conveying the food of the country and the lives of the people within it. He also participated in sharing for marginalized children and youth, serving as the national chairperson for ChildFund Korea and the chairperson of the non-profit organization Zero Camp. He also held public roles outside of acting, such as serving as a member of the 14th National Assembly.

What Choi Bool-am left behind are not just numerous works and roles. Having defined justice and humanity as Inspector Park in 'Chief Inspector' and conveyed the warmth of family and community as Chairman Kim in 'Country Diaries', he established himself in different forms within the memories of multiple generations. The anecdote involving the phone call from First Lady Yuk Young-soo remains a memory that illustrates the extent of his popularity at the time. Public mourning and reminiscence continue following the departure of an actor who guarded the living rooms of an era.

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