'Ah, the Father of the Nation'... Late Choi Bul-am, from 'National Father' in "Jeonwon Ilgi" to Anthropological Contributions in "Korean Table": Half a Century as a Father [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Actor Choi Bul-am passed away at the age of 87. The news is felt all the more deeply because the late actor was familiar to us for half a century with his image as the "Father of the Nation."

Choi Bul-am died around 10 p.m. on the 29th while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. It is reported that after undergoing lumbar disc surgery in March last year, Choi's mobility became impaired, and his health subsequently deteriorated rapidly.

Born in 1939, Choi Bul-am was born in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and graduated from the Film Department of Hanyang University. He then debuted as an actor in 1959 by performing in "Hamlet" with the theater troupe "Experimental Theater Society," becoming known at the time as the youngest actor to play Hamlet in Korea. Choi began his serious acting career as a member of the National Theater Company in 1965.

Choi Bul-am entered television work after being selected as a special-recruitment 6th cohort talent in 1967 by Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS). He showcased various roles, including the elderly Kim Jong-seo in the drama "Prince Suyang," Captain Park in "You and Me," and former President Syngman Rhee in "The First Republic" and "The Second Republic."

In particular, works that cannot be omitted when discussing his achievements were MBC dramas "Detective Chief" and "Jeonwon Ilgi." In "Detective Chief," which aired from 1971, he played the role of "Chief Park," earning much love from viewers as a character who soothed the sorrows of common people and embodied justice. The image of a cool yet humane detective provided catharsis and deep trust to the public amidst the dark social atmosphere of that time.

Following this, in "Jeonwon Ilgi," which aired for a long 22 years starting in 1980, he played the role of Chairman Kim from Yangchon-ri, portraying the traditional values and family love of Korean rural life with his whole being. By completing the image of a "father of our era" who was blunt yet deeply caring, Choi Bul-am emerged as a national icon that touched the hearts of all generations in South Korea.

Choi Bul-am also made significant contributions beyond dramas, in documentaries. KBS's "Korean Table," which he has hosted since 2011, is evaluated not merely as a cooking program but as an anthropological record documenting the lives, emotions, history, and culture of Koreans contained within food.

In addition, Choi Bul-am served as the first president of the Broadcast Actors Association, leading efforts to protect the rights of junior actors and develop broadcast culture, and was recognized for his contributions by receiving numerous honors, including the Cultural Merit Medal.

In May last year, MBC's documentary "Paha, I Am Choi Bul-am," which captured Choi Bul-am's acting career of over 60 years, was released in two parts. Although it was initially reported that Choi Bul-am would appear, he did not stand before the camera at the family's request to focus on rehabilitation treatment. Due to his deteriorating health, he also stepped down from KBS 1TV's informational and cultural program "Korean Table," which he had hosted for 14 years since 2011.

The late actor's wake is being held at the Asan Medical Center funeral home in Seoul, and it will receive mourners starting at 10 a.m. on the 30th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original