Tributes pour in for legendary actor Choi Bool-am

Actor Choi Bool-am passed away at a Seoul hospital at approximately 10:30 p.m. on the 29th at the age of 87. Following his death, broadcasters MBC and KBS scheduled special memorial programs to honor the veteran actor, who was known for roles in "Chief Inspector" and "Country Diaries."

Messages of condolence are pouring in from across the entertainment, political, and cultural sectors following the passing of actor Choi Bool-am, the "national father," at the age of 87. As a figure who shared the joys and sorrows of viewers in their living rooms for many years, junior actors remembered him as both a father and a mentor, while President Lee Jae Myung honored him as an actor who will remain long in the nation's memory. The heartfelt farewells from those who shared personal connections with him underscore the deep footprint left by the late actor.

Choi Soo-jong posted a tribute on his personal social media on the 30th, expressing respect and gratitude. "Beyond the name of an actor for a lifetime, he was a teacher who most deeply revered and cherished the sweat of Korean neighbors and the life upon their dining tables," he recalled. As a junior who took over hosting duties for "Korean Cuisine and Dining" after Choi Bool-am stepped down due to health issues last year, he added, "I was truly happy and grateful to be able to laugh and cry under the great shade of the teacher."

So Yoo-jin, who worked with him in the drama "Happy Ending," also left a touching farewell. "My grandfather Choi Bool-am, who loved me like a real granddaughter. Please rest peacefully in heaven," she wrote, expressing her longing. Her message was particularly moving as she described him as a senior who treated her like real family, transcending their professional connection in the work.

Kwon Oh-joong, who appeared with Choi Bool-am in the drama "Gourmet," recalled the late actor as a teacher and father figure. "In the drama 'Gourmet,' Choi Bool-am was my teacher and a warm father," he mourned, adding, "Even off-camera, I can still clearly feel the warmth and kind gaze he would give me, embracing me with a wide embrace like a real father." He confessed that the human side of the actor, who embraced his juniors, remains more memorable than the strictness he showed on acting sets.

Popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo, who maintained a long friendship with the couple Choi Bool-am and Kim Min-ja, could not hide his sorrow. He shared his heavy heart regarding their last meeting, stating, "I did not know that the greeting from my visit to the hospital a few months ago would be a final farewell." Composer Yoon Il-sang expressed that the parting felt even more unfamiliar because the actor had been a constant presence since his childhood. "As the righteous inspector in 'Chief Inspector' and the warm, reliable father in 'Country Diaries,' teacher was a part of our lives for a long time," he wrote.

Hanbok researcher Park Sul-nyeo visited the funeral hall and revealed that she had prepared the burial clothing in advance due to their special bond. Park stated that after hearing Choi Bool-am would undergo surgery for spinal pain, she began making a dopo and had been preparing the necessary funeral attire, such as the bajori, for about a year. She explained that she put her heart into the preparations, thinking of the eventual parting after hearing news of his poor health. The fact that a hanbok artisan's touch was added to the final journey of an actor who showed long-standing affection for traditional Korean culture and clothing left those around him in solemn silence.

Tributes also continued from the political sphere. President Lee Jae Myung honored Choi Bool-am via social media on the 30th, reminiscing, "A teacher who started on the stage and received the love of the people for a long time as Inspector Park Yeong-han in 'Chief Inspector' and Chairman Kim in 'Country Diaries'." He expressed his condolences, stating, "The image of the teacher, who was with us as a detective protecting justice and as a friendly father, will remain in the hearts of the people for a long time." His message noted how the characters played by the actor became part of the social memory across generations.

Broadcasters have also urgently scheduled special programs to honor the deceased. MBC has decided to broadcast parts 1 and 2 of the memorial special encore documentary "Paha, I'm Choi Bool-am" on the 30th and November 1, respectively. KBS has scheduled "Choi Bool-am, the Beloved Guest in Our Living Rooms" for 11:10 p.m. on the 30th, and will look back on his life and acting career through "Choi Bool-am, Keeper of the Table: We Remember You" at 8:10 p.m. on November 1. These programs will re-examine not only his roles in works but also his footsteps as a host who conveyed stories of our food and people.

Choi Bool-am passed away at around 10:30 p.m. on the 29th while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, at the age of 87. The funeral hall has been established at the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, with his wife Kim Min-ja among those listed as chief mourners. The funeral will be held over five days, conducted as the head of ChildFund Korea, an organization to which he was dedicated for a long time. The procession is scheduled for November 2, and a funeral mass honoring the devout Catholic will be held at Yeouido Catholic Church, presided over by Andrew Yeom Soo-jung.

Choi Bool-am was an actor who lived in the memories of different generations as the upright detective in "Chief Inspector" and the warm head of household in "Country Diaries." To his juniors, he was a senior and father with a generous embrace, and to viewers, he was a familiar presence who stayed by their side unchangingly for many years. The procession of tributes following his departure does not merely mourn the passing of a veteran actor; it is a farewell to an actor who helped shape the emotions and collective memory of an era.

Read the original (Korean)