Yoo In-chon mourns actor Choi Bool-am after his passing at 87

Former Minister Yoo In-chon visited the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall on the 30th to mourn actor Choi Bool-am, who passed away in Seoul at approximately 10:00 p.m. on the 29th. Yoo, who portrayed the actor's onscreen son for 22 years, expressed heartbreak that a planned winter reunion could not take place.

Former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon expressed deep sorrow while visiting the funeral hall of the late Choi Bool-am. The two men, who played father and son for 22 years in television dramas, shared a bond that extended beyond their onscreen relationship to that of a real family. Yoo expressed his grief over the sudden farewell, noting that despite a promise to meet again, the reality of the passing was "very regrettable, disappointing, and heartbreaking."

On the 30th, former Minister Yoo In-chon visited the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall to see off the late Choi Bool-am. Speaking to the press, he recalled a special connection that began at the start of his acting career, stating, "He played the father even in my debut work. It cannot be described as a simple connection."

The bond between the two was most notably forged in the MBC national drama 'Country Diaries.' In the series, Yoo played Kim Yong-sik, the second son of Chairman Kim, portraying a father-son relationship with Choi Bool-am over a long period. "Because he lived as a father for 22 years, from my personal standpoint, he is family. I always called him 'father' in daily life," Yoo said, explaining that the drama's cast treated each other like family in reality as well as on set.

The sudden news came as a significant shock. Yoo revealed that he had not seen the deceased in person for the past two or three months. They had discussed meeting once his health improved, and Yoo had hoped to see his face around winter, but instead received the news of his passing. "It is very regrettable, disappointing, and heartbreaking," he said, lamenting the reunion that could not take place.

Yoo also expressed regret regarding the social role the deceased could have continued to play. "They say we live in a century of 100-year lifespans. He was someone who could have stayed much longer and provided much more good influence to people," Yoo said. He added that it was painful that such a presence could no longer be seen, as the actor provided comfort to people through great dramas and programs.

Commemorating the deceased, Yoo remarked, "I think he will now rest peacefully and look down to see if our juniors are doing well." His words reflected the respect and longing for Choi Bool-am, who had been a senior colleague and a father figure for many years.

Yoo also recalled lines he heard from Choi Bool-am when he first stepped into acting. "I still remember him saying, 'Happiness is not far away. Open the window behind your back. Happiness will be there,'" he said. He added that even after the deceased's passing, people will remember those words and find happiness whenever they open a window, as the warm image left by Choi Bool-am will endure for a long time.

Choi Bool-am passed away at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, at approximately 10:00 p.m. on the 29th. He was 87 years old. Having debuted in the stage play 'Hamlet' in 1959, he began his full-scale television acting career after being selected as a special talent for Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS) in 1967. He went on to create significant moments in Korean broadcasting history through numerous works, including MBC's 'Chief Inspector,' 'Country Diaries,' and 'You and I.'

In particular, the roles of Chief Park Yeong-han in 'Chief Inspector' and Chairman Kim in 'Country Diaries' remain iconic characters representing Choi Bool-am. Since 2011, he hosted KBS 1TV's 'Korean Cuisine and Dining,' meeting ordinary neighbors across the country to share stories of life embedded in food. Following waist disc surgery last March, his mobility became difficult, leading him to step down from the program he hosted for 14 years to focus on rehabilitation. His final acting work was the MBC drama 'Chief Detective 1958,' which aired in 2024.

The funeral procession for the deceased will be held strictly at 7:00 a.m. on November 2, and the burial site is Donghwa Gyeongmo Park. The void left by Choi Bool-am—who was a father in dramas for 22 years and a family-like senior in reality—will remain deeply in the memories of fellow actors like Yoo In-chon and long-time viewers.

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