"Hang in there, Kwon-kun": Late actor Choi Bul-am's life of kindness… Kwon Young-chan mourns, saying "My heart aches" [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Comedian Kwon Young-chan expressed his condolences upon hearing news of the passing of actor Choi Bul-am, stating, "My heart aches."

On the 30th, Kwon told StarNews, "He was truly very kind to me," and recalled memories with the late actor, saying, "I always watched your work, and he would cheer me on by saying, 'Hang in there, Kwon-kun.'"

Kwon revealed that during his lifetime, the late actor had served as the officiant for a free wedding ceremony for 10 couples organized by Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH), and that Kwon had participated as the host at the time. He reflected, saying, "When the teacher officiated the ceremony, he only accepted payment for transportation costs," adding, "It was when he was receiving national love through his role in the SBS drama 'Shikgaek' (Foodie)."

He continued, "He took on a modeling role for an advertisement by the Housing Finance Corporation, and I had been doing MC work and lectures there for three years," recalling the late actor's warm demeanor: "Every time, he would smile and say, 'I see you again,' and always give me a hug."

Kwon said, "He was a precious person to me," and offered his condolences with the words, "I respect you as a senior. May you rest in a good place."

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

He stepped down from "Korean Table," a KBS 1TV documentary program he had hosted for 14 years since 2011, after becoming mobility-impaired due to a herniated disc last year. It is known that he subsequently focused on rehabilitation but his health deteriorated rapidly recently.

The late Choi Bul-am, who debuted in the play "Hamlet" in 1959, was widely loved as a "national actor" through roles such as the righteous Detective Sergeant Park Young-han in the MBC drama "Susa Banjang" (Detective Sergeant) and Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in "Jeonwon Ilgi" (Country Diary).

The late actor's wake was set up in Room 20 of the funeral hall at Seoul Asan Hospital in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The bereaved family listed on the notice included his wife, Kim Min-ja, and his sons, Dong-nyeol and Dong-bi. Actor Na Moon-hee, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, designer Park Sul-nyeo, and others visited to pay their respects.

The funeral will be held for five days under the auspices of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation. During his lifetime, the late actor served as the National Patron Chairman of Green Umbrella, continuing support for children both domestically and abroad.

The departure ceremony is scheduled to be held at 7:40 a.m. on November 2, followed by a funeral mass presided over by Cardinal Myung Soo-jung at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, around 9 a.m. After the mass, final farewells will be exchanged around 10:40 a.m. at the Green Umbrella headquarters in Mugyodong, Seoul.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original