Nation's Father Choi Bool-am passes away at 87

Actor Choi Bool-am died at approximately 10 p.m. on the 29th while receiving inpatient treatment in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The late actor, who had stepped down from his KBS 1TV program following spinal disc surgery last year, had recently promised Minister Choi Hwi-young they would share a glass of makgeolli upon his discharge.

With the passing of the "Nation's Father" Choi Bool-am, a simple promise made from his hospital bed just four months ago is adding to the sense of sorrow. Despite his poor health, he greeted visitors with his signature hearty laughter, promising to have a glass of makgeolli together once he was discharged. While it was a warm conversation shared in hopes of a speedy recovery at the time, it now remains as the final greeting of the deceased that can never be heard again.

Choi Bool-am passed away at approximately 10 p.m. on the 29th while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He was 87 years old. Following the news, a social media post from June by Choi Hwi-young, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who had visited him in the hospital, is drawing renewed attention. The post, which revealed Choi Bool-am's appearance in his hospital bed and the conversation they shared, has moved those remembering the late actor's final days.

At the time, Minister Choi shared a photo of his visit, stating, "I visited and respectfully greeted our 'Nation's Father' Choi Bool-am, who is hospitalized due to health issues." The visit took place on June 11, and his wife, actress Kim Min-ja, was present in the hospital room. In the photo, Choi Bool-am was seen greeting the visitor despite undergoing inpatient treatment.

Minister Choi reported that they discussed a wide range of topics, from current world affairs to art and religion. "Teacher Choi Bool-am gave me much to think about, speaking on many subjects from recent world events to art and religion, and gave me warm encouragement," he recalled. "I felt very relieved because he welcomed me warmly with his signature 'Paha' laugh." The fact that his characteristic laugh, familiar to the public for many years, remained even in his hospital bed provided brief comfort to those worried about his health.

The most heart-wrenching part is the promise made regarding his discharge. Minister Choi revealed, "Teacher Choi Bool-am also said let's have a drink together once he is discharged soon. I did not hesitate to ask him to buy me makgeolli." It was a modest suggestion to meet again and share a comfortable drink after his health recovered. It was not a grand farewell or a special appointment, but a daily conversation promising a next meeting with someone close, making it feel even more poignant after his passing.

The conversation also touched upon memories of Choi Bool-am's family and the arts community. Minister Choi brought up the story of 'Eunseong,' a tavern operated by the deceased's mother, which caused Choi Bool-am to laugh brightly. 'Eunseong' is known as a place that served as a hideout where poor artists used to gather. The memories of those days, when artists shared drinks while discussing literature, theater, and life, align with the path actor Choi Bool-am walked. The conversation held in the hospital room contained memories that only those who lived through an era of culture and arts together could share.

Choi Bool-am's declining health became widely known following spinal disc surgery last year. As his mobility became difficult after the surgery, he stepped down from the KBS 1TV program 'Korean Cuisine and Dining,' which he had hosted for 14 years. Because he had traveled to mountains, fields, and seas across the country to deliver stories of life found in the meals of ordinary people, the news of his departure from the program left significant disappointment among viewers. He was subsequently reported to be focusing on hospitalization and rehabilitation, and the hospital photo released in June was one of the recent updates received by the public who had been worrying about him.

Choi Bool-am remained by the side of viewers for many years as Inspector Park Young-han in the drama 'Chief Inspector' and Chairman Kim in 'Country Diaries.' By portraying an upright yet human investigator and a rural patriarch who embraced family and neighbors, he created the archetype of a father in Korean popular culture. Beyond his work as an actor, he communicated with viewers through the 'Campaign Headquarters for a Better Country' and 'Korean Cuisine and Dining,' gaining cross-generational familiarity through his unpretentious way of speaking and his "Paha~" laugh.

What Choi Bool-am leaves behind are not only numerous works and memories but also the warmth embedded in ordinary daily conversations. Although the promise to have a glass of makgeolli upon discharge could not become a reality, those words fully contain the human side of the deceased, who welcomed people warmly and looked forward to the next meeting. For those recalling the final recent days of the Nation's Father, that day's laughter and promise are expected to remain as memories that will not be easily erased.

Read the original (Korean)