Country Diaries actors mourn late Choi Bool-am as a great teacher

Nam Seong-jin and Kim Ji-young visited the Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Seoul on October 31 to pay respects to Choi Bool-am, who passed away at the age of 87 on October 29.

Actors Nam Seong-jin and Kim Ji-young, who played the grandsons of Choi Bool-am in the long-running MBC drama 'Country Diaries', visited the funeral hall of the late Choi Bool-am to pay their final respects. Having portrayed the characters Yeong-nam and Bok-gil, respectively, the two viewed Choi as a reliable pillar of their acting careers and a great elder who provided life lessons. During her tribute, Kim Ji-young became visibly emotional and choked up.

Nam Seong-jin and Kim Ji-young visited the funeral hall for Choi Bool-am at Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on October 31. The pair shared a long history with Choi through the long-running MBC drama 'Country Diaries', where they appeared as family members—Kim Ji-young as Bok-gil and Nam Seong-jin as Yeong-nam, the grandson of Chairman Kim played by Choi.

Their connection extended beyond the screen; Nam Seong-jin and Kim Ji-young grew close through 'Country Diaries' and later became a married couple in real life. Because the two, who met as family in the drama, formed a real-world household, their relationship with Choi was particularly special.

After paying their respects, Nam Seong-jin described the deceased to reporters as a "great mountain" and a "teacher." "From the moment we were cast in 'Country Diaries' together after debuting as actors, he was a presence like a great mountain to us," he recalled. "He was a great teacher who taught us so much beyond just the life of an actor."

Kim Ji-young also offered brief but deep memories of the deceased, describing Choi as "a father and a teacher." When asked if she had any final words, she became emotional and choked up, saying, "I was always grateful, and I learned many things throughout my life."

"He was such a precious and valuable person to us, and it is so heartbreaking that we can no longer see him," she added in mourning. "Still, I will pray that he rests in peace." The longing felt for a senior colleague and elder they had relied on like family was clearly evident.

Nam Seong-jin also expressed that the passing still does not feel real, stating, "I still cannot believe it," and adding his wish that "he goes to a good place and rests comfortably." Kim Ji-young requested that people remember the warm character the deceased left behind. "I hope he is remembered as a great elder who, as he always was, served as a role model to everyone, shared a warm heart, and took care of everyone kindly," she said.

Choi Bool-am passed away at the age of 87 at approximately 10:00 p.m. on October 29. The funeral was held in Room 20 of the Asan Medical Center funeral hall, with the funeral procession scheduled for 7:00 a.m. on November 2. A funeral mass will be held at Yeouido Catholic Church, and his final resting place will be Donghwa Gyeongmo Park.

Read the original (Korean)