Kim Yong-gun regrets missing Choi Bool-am's funeral due to son's wedding

Actor Kim Yong-gun expressed deep regret for being unable to attend the funeral of Choi Bool-am, who passed away at age 87 on the 29th of last month. Kim refrained from visiting the funeral home following advice regarding his son Ha Jung-woo's upcoming wedding on the 13th of next month.

Actor Kim Yong-gun, who played the role of father and son alongside the late Choi Bool-am for 22 years in the MBC drama 'Country Diaries', expressed deep regret for not being able to personally see off the late actor's final journey. Although he refrained from visiting the funeral home after being advised by those around him due to his son Ha Jung-woo's upcoming wedding, his longing and guilt for the man he relied on as a father and senior colleague for many years have not easily subsided. Kim expressed his complex emotions, stating, "I should be there."

Kim revealed the circumstances that prevented him from visiting the funeral home after hearing the news of the passing. "My son's wedding is next month, and while preparing after hearing the sad news, I received calls from several people saying it would be better not to attend the funeral," he confessed, adding, "I don't necessarily believe those things, but my heart was heavy." He explained that people had discouraged him from attending due to traditional superstitions that discourage families with upcoming weddings from visiting funeral halls.

However, this did not stop his mourning. "I heard the unexpected sad news and should have rushed there immediately, but because I couldn't, my heart has been heavy every day," Kim said. "He was not just anyone, but someone I spent many years with as a father and a senior. I should be there." His remarks suggest that the emotional burden of not being able to stand by the side of a long-time connection during their final moments weighed more heavily on him than the reality of not visiting the funeral hall.

Kim's son, actor Ha Jung-woo, is scheduled to marry fellow actor Cha Jung-won on the 13th of next month. As advice continued to come in to refrain from visiting the funeral home ahead of the family's joyous occasion, Kim ultimately commemorated the deceased with his heart instead of a physical visit. "Even though I couldn't go to see him, I prayed with my heart," he said. "Even last night, I prayed, 'Please go to a comfortable place and rest well. I will follow you soon, though I don't know when that will be in the distant future, so please rest in peace, hyung-nim.'"

The bond between the two went beyond a simple senior-junior relationship in a single production. Kim played the eldest son to Choi Bool-am's father in 'Country Diaries', which aired from 1980 to 2002. Having lived as a family within the drama for 22 years, they built a special bond outside of the work. Kim recalled the deceased as "someone who was like a hyung-nim, a senior, and a father," noting, "He was truly special to me."

In particular, Kim could not forget the conversations they shared when Choi Bool-am was receiving rehabilitation treatment at a hospital. At the time, Choi had said, "I am undergoing rehabilitation now, so let's see each other soon. Let's gather a few people and have a glass of soju," to which Kim replied, "Of course, hyung-nim. You must get up regardless." While he waited for the day they could meet again to share a drink, contact was eventually lost. Kim expressed regret over the unfulfilled promise, saying he "just waited for good news, thinking he must be having a very difficult time."

Choi Bool-am, referred to as the "National Father," passed away at the age of 87 on the night of the 29th of last month while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Following a herniated disc surgery in March last year, his mobility became difficult, leading to his departure from the KBS 1TV show 'Korean Cuisine and Dining', which he had hosted for 14 years. Although he had been focusing on rehabilitation, it was reported that his health had recently deteriorated rapidly. The funeral was held with the dignity of the head of ChildFund Korea, and various figures, including ChildFund Korea Chairman Younggi Hwang and former Prime Ministers Lee Soo-sung and Lee Nack-yon, participated as funeral committee members.

The procession of mourning for the deceased continued from within and outside the entertainment industry. Longtime colleagues and juniors such as Kim Hye-ja, Yu In-chon, Go Doo-shim, and Im Ho visited the funeral home, and actors who appeared as family members in 'Country Diaries' also reminisced about their memories with him. Kim Ji-young and Nam Seong-jin, who appeared as Bok-gil and Young-nam in the drama and are well known for being a real-life married couple, also paid their respects. Kim Ji-young mourned, saying, "He was a truly precious and valuable person to us, and it is so heartbreaking that we can no longer see him," while Nam Seong-jin requested that he be remembered as a great elder who served as a role model to everyone and took care of people with a warm heart.

Song Il-kook, who appeared in 'Country Diaries' in a minor role during his time as an MBC talent, also honored the life of the deceased. He evaluated the actor as someone who embodied the teaching that an actor's dignity is completed through their life, mentioning Choi's practice of staying by the side of children in need for over 40 years. He further expressed his intention to carry on the deceased's warm heart and spirit of sharing.

Choi Bool-am was a friendly father figure to the public for many years and a reliable senior and role model for fellow actors. Kim Yong-gun's remark, "I should be there," contains the deep connection of the on-screen father-son relationship that lasted 22 years, the real-life bond, and the regret of not being able to offer a final farewell. Even though he could not visit the funeral home, his mourning and longing for the deceased were more earnest than anyone else's.

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