Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon mourns the late Choi Bul-am: "The empty seat feels even more profound" [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon paid tribute to the late actor Choi Bul-am.

On the 30th, Mayor Oh posted on his personal social media, "Our father, Teacher Choi Bul-am. National actor Teacher Choi Bul-am has left our side."

Mayor Oh continued, "As Detective Park in 'Detective Squad' and Chairman Kim in 'Country Diary,' he was someone who made my heart feel warm every time I saw him on screen, which is why the empty seat feels even more profound. In his hearty laughter, we could see the image of our fathers, and in his voice, the sorrows of a generation that endured difficult times were woven in. For 14 years, he traveled across the country seeking out humble home-cooked meals, listening to the lives of ordinary neighbors, and he never let go of holding the hands of struggling children until the very end."

He also mentioned the special bond between the late actor and Seoul City. Mayor Oh stated, "The teacher served as Seoul City's ambassador from 1998 and was our longest-serving ambassador. We will all remember with one heart the spirit that became the face of Seoul for many years. It is heartbreaking to think that we must now meet the father of the nation, who seemed like he would always be by our side, only in our memories. Teacher Choi Bul-am, thank you so much. Rest in peace. We sincerely pray for the repose of the late one's soul."

Earlier, around 10 p.m. on the 29th, Choi Bul-am passed away while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He was 87 years old.

The late actor's wake is being held at the Seoul Asan Medical Center funeral hall, and it will open to the general public from 10 a.m. on the 30th.

Choi Bul-am's deteriorating health began after he underwent lumbar disc surgery in March of last year. At the time, as his mobility became impaired, he stepped down from KBS 1TV's documentary program "Korean Table," which he had hosted for 14 years since 2011. He subsequently focused on rehabilitation, but it is known that his health deteriorated rapidly.

Born in 1939, Choi Bul-am made his debut in the play "Hamlet" with the theater troupe "Experimental Theater Association" in 1959 and began his full-fledged acting career as a member of the National Theater Company in 1965.

His entry into television drama came when he was selected as a special-recruitment sixth-generation talent for Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS) in 1967. He established himself as a "national actor" through roles such as the elderly Kim Jong-seo in the drama "Prince Suyang," Detective Park Young-han in MBC's "Detective Squad," Chairman Kim in "Country Diary," Captain Park in "You and Me," and former President Syngman Rhee in "The First Republic" and "The Second Republic."

In May, an MBC documentary titled "Paha, I Am Choi Bul-am," which chronicled Choi Bul-am's 60-year acting career, was released in two parts. Although it was initially reported that Choi Bul-am would appear in the documentary, he did not stand before the camera at the request of his family, who wanted him to focus on his rehabilitation treatment.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original