Kim Hye-ja honors late on-screen husband Choi Bool-am

Actress Kim Hye-ja reflected on her deep bond with actor Choi Bool-am, who passed away at age 87 on the 29th in Seoul. The two shared a 22-year onscreen marriage in the MBC drama 'Country Diaries' and maintained a close friendship that dated back to their time performing stage plays together.

Following the passing of actor Choi Bool-am, the poignant reflections of actress Kim Hye-ja, who played his wife for 22 years, are drawing renewed attention. Having lived as a married couple on screen for many years, the two were more than just dramatic partners; they were colleagues and friends who shared deep trust and friendship in real life. Kim Hye-ja's past words, "Everything was good," when recalling Choi Bool-am, add a layer of moving longing and respect for the deceased.

Choi Bool-am passed away at the age of 87 on the 29th at around 10:00 p.m. while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Having focused on rehabilitation after suffering mobility issues following spinal disc surgery, the actor passed away surrounded by his family, colleagues, and the viewers who loved him for a long time. Mourning from the broadcasting industry and the public continues following the news of the actor, who embodied the image of a father figure for Koreans through his heavy and humble acting for over 60 years.

The relationship being revisited alongside the news of his death is with Kim Hye-ja, who appeared as his wife in the MBC drama 'Country Diaries'. From 1980 to 2002, the two played Chairman Kim and his wife Lee Eun-sim for 22 years, delivering the daily life and joys and sorrows of Korean rural families to living rooms. Their natural chemistry, which made them feel like a real couple to viewers for such a long time, continued even after the series concluded.

In 2023, Kim Hye-ja recalled her time with Choi Bool-am while appearing on the tvN STORY show 'The Chairman's People'. At the time, regarding Choi Bool-am, who played her husband in 'Country Diaries', she said, "Choi Bool-am was my husband, and everything was good." The brief but deep confession contained the comfort and trust built through many years of acting together.

On that day, Kim Hye-ja also revealed a photo taken by Choi Bool-am himself. The moment demonstrated that they were not merely colleagues appearing in the same work, but close individuals who had watched over each other's lives and time for a long period. For the two, who lived as a married couple in the drama for 22 years, 'Country Diaries' was more than just a production; it was a part of their youth and lives spent together.

The sentiments expressed by Kim Hye-ja when the two met again on broadcast after 21 years also left a deep impression. She recalled, "I was so fluttered while waiting for Choi Bool-am. It felt like meeting an old friend, and I almost cried." She further explained their special bond, saying, "We have been together for a very long time," and "We are true, very old friends since we did stage plays together before 'Country Diaries'."

Kim Hye-ja's words reveal a relationship that goes beyond simple onscreen chemistry. The time spent together, from long-standing stage plays to drama filming sets, made them familiar colleagues and long-time friends. While they were a representative couple in a drama to viewers, to the two actors, they were companions who endured and shared memories over many years.

The funeral altar for Choi Bool-am has been prepared at the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Seoul. The funeral procession will take place on November 2 at 7:00 a.m., and the burial site is Donghwa Gyeongmo Park. Kim Hye-ja and Choi Bool-am, who lived as a couple in the memories of viewers for 22 years, are being reminded of their connection through Kim Hye-ja's words, "Everything was good."

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