Announcer Kim Victoriano honors late Choi Bool-am for professional influence

Following the funeral mass for Choi Bool-am on the 2nd, announcer Kim Victoriano shared a tribute on Instagram to honor the late actor who passed away at age 87. Kim, who studied Choi's narration of 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' at least 50 times, expressed gratitude for the professional guidance provided by the deceased's voice.

Announcer Kim Victoriano has paid tribute to the late Choi Bool-am, an individual with whom he never had a personal connection but who exerted a profound influence on his broadcasting career. Kim confessed to listening to the late actor's voice and narration dozens of times while contemplating the true meaning of communication, a reflection that highlights the special lessons one broadcaster can impart to another.

On the 2nd, Kim Victoriano shared a memorial video on his Instagram, announcing that the funeral mass and departure ceremony for Choi Bool-am had been held. While noting that he had no personal acquaintance with the deceased, he calmly shared how the voice of Choi Bool-am, encountered through broadcasts, left a massive resonance within him.

Kim first realized Choi's influence during his time as a KBS announcer. He recalled that while watching the KBS1 cultural program 'Korean Cuisine and Dining,' he found himself listening intently to the late actor's narration. Kim noted he was deeply moved by a voice and delivery style that felt human and warm, differing from typical broadcasting methods.

In particular, Kim revealed that he watched Choi's narration at least 50 times. This was not merely to mimic the voice or imitate the style, but to study how to utilize a single word, breathing, and the pauses between sentences to properly convey content to viewers. The way the deceased conveyed the warmth of people and life solely through a voice introducing food from off-screen became a standard and a subject of study for the young broadcaster.

Describing himself as a "small person," Kim expressed gratitude to Choi, stating that he was a thankful individual who exerted great influence even on a junior colleague he did not know personally. Although he was a figure encountered unilaterally through the screen, Choi's voice and attitude provided teachings as significant as those of a mentor met in person.

Kim also confessed to hesitating before offering his tribute. He admitted to wondering if it was appropriate to offer words of condolence when he had no direct relationship with the deceased. Ultimately, he decided to express his gratitude and respect, praying for the repose of the deceased. His tribute carries a quiet resonance, showing that even without personal friendship or special ties, the influence one person leaves on another's life and professional growth is never small.

Choi Bool-am passed away at the age of 87 on the 29th of last month at around 10:00 p.m. while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. After undergoing surgery for a herniated disc last March, his mobility became difficult, leading him to step down from 'Korean Cuisine and Dining,' which he had hosted for 14 years. While he had focused on rehabilitation afterward, it is reported that his health condition recently deteriorated rapidly.

The departure ceremony for the deceased was held at 7:40 a.m. on the 2nd at the Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Having left a familiar face and voice through his long career as an actor, Choi Bool-am shared stories of people and food from across the country through 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' in addition to his acting. Kim Victoriano's tribute demonstrates that the influence left by the deceased extends beyond viewers to junior broadcasters growing within the field.

Kim Victoriano, born in 1992, currently works as an announcer for Yonhap News TV. Though they never met to exchange greetings, he is a junior colleague who reflected on his own language and delivery by revisiting a broadcaster's voice more than 50 times. To him, Choi Bool-am remains a figure who, beyond being a person on a screen, awakened him to the essence of broadcasting.

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