Late actor Choi Bul-am passes away at 87… Na Moon-hee, Kim Hye-soo, Song Hye-kyo, and J-Hope express condolences: "A born actor" [Star Scene] [Comprehensive Report]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

As "National Father" actor Choi Bul-am (real name Choi Young-han) passed away, numerous colleagues visited the funeral home in person to express their condolences.

The funeral home for Choi Bul-am was set up at Room 20 of the Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at 10 a.m. on the 30th. The bereaved family listed his wife Kim Min-ja, sons Dong-nyeol and Dong-bi, and other family members. The funeral is being conducted under the auspices of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation. The funeral committee is chaired by Green Umbrella Chairman Hwang Young-gi, with former Prime Ministers Lee Soo-seong and Lee Nak-yoon serving as committee members.

On this day, floral arrangements and mourning banners were placed at the funeral home from business and political figures, actors Ko Doo-sim, Choi Joo-bong, Jung Joon-ho, Kim Hye-soo, Jeon Do-yeon, Song Hye-kyo, Han Ji-min, Shim Eun-kyung, Shin Hyun-jun, Lee Sang-byuk, Choi Soo-jong and Ha Hee-ra, Im Ho, BTS member J-Hope, and KBS President Park Jang-beom.

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Kim Min-seok, former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, former Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yoo In-chon, actors Na Moon-hee, Kim Seong-hwan, Cha In-pyo, Kim Eung-soo, Kim Hye-soo, singer Jin Sung, hanbok designer Park Sul-nyeo, and others visited the funeral home in person to console the bereaved family and mourn the deceased.

First, former Minister Yoo In-chon was among the earliest to visit the funeral home, stating, "Mr. Choi Bul-am played the role of my father in my debut work as an actor. Because he played the father role for 22 years in 'Jeonwon Ilgi' (Country Diary), he is family to me, and I usually called him 'Father.'" He could not hide his grief.

Former Minister Yoo added, "The entire 'Jeonwon Ilgi' family (actors and staff) share the same feelings." He said, "I was unable to see him for a few months. The teacher said, 'Let's meet when I get better, we can meet,' but in the end, I received the news of his passing, which is regrettable and painful."

He continued, "These days are the era of living to be 100, aren't they? He was someone who could provide complete positive influence, so it is truly sad. I wished he could offer comfort through more programs, but his departure is painful. But what can we do? I hope he rests in peace. He will surely be looking down from heaven to see if the juniors are doing well."

He added, "Just like the epithet 'National Father,' when I was early in my career, the teacher told me, 'Happiness is not far away. Open the window and happiness is there.' That still remains in my memory. I think he will likely remain in the public's image as a symbol of happiness."

Na Moon-hee, who played Choi Bul-am's wife in the 2014 SBS drama "A Good Day," also visited the funeral home. After paying her respects, Na Moon-hee stood before the press cameras and said to the deceased, "Mr. Choi Bul-am, you have gone ahead of us. You were our pride, so it is very disappointing that you left this early. Goodbye."

Hanbok designer Park Sul-nyeo prepared the deceased's funeral clothes. She received a request from the deceased's wife, Kim Min-ja, about three weeks ago to prepare the funeral attire.

Park Sul-nyeo stated, "There is no citizen who does not know Mr. Choi Bul-am, but he had sought me out for hanbok needs before this. He was an elder who loved traditional aesthetics, and I have a special bond with him through hanbok. Did he not spend his entire life solely in acting? I started making the funeral clothes as soon as I heard that the teacher had back problems."

She added, "Teacher, you are a born actor. I hope you live comfortably in heaven. While there is regret that he could have lived another 10 years, I am grateful that he left after giving great resonance to the nation. Above all, it is reassuring that his wife is calm. It is fortunate to feel the composed heart befitting the wife of a great actor."

Actor Kim Seong-hwan and singer Jin Sung also paid their respects. Kim Seong-hwan praised Choi Bul-am as "someone who wrote the history of drama alongside Mr. Lee Soon-jae," saying, "It is even more regrettable because he gave so much love to his juniors. I hope he rests peacefully in a good place."

Jin Sung said, "The senior was a living witness to broadcasting," adding, "I also have a sense of happiness from retracing the teacher's past footsteps and treading those traces, which makes my heart ache. I hope only good things fill his time in heaven. Since he is an elder who decorated a page of history, I think everyone feels it is regrettable."

Cha In-pyo said, "The teacher has gone to heaven. I offer my condolences to the bereaved family. I hope the teacher has gone to a place free from pain and suffering. The teacher played the role of father to the entire nation for a long time through television dramas. From the difficult late 1960s in our country until recently, he gave comfort and courage to the people, for which I am grateful."

He continued, "I also grew up watching 'Susa Banjang' (Detective Chief) and 'Jeonwon Ilgi' in my childhood. Later, as an actor, I have a connection with the teacher from playing father and son roles in the drama 'You and Me.' At that time, the teacher treated even distant juniors equally as individuals."

He added, "I am still grateful to have been able to act with such an excellent person. I hope he is at peace in heaven."

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

Choi Bul-am, who debuted in the 1959 play "Hamlet," was loved as a national actor for his roles such as the righteous Chief Park Young-han in the MBC drama "Susa Banjang" and Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in "Jeonwon Ilgi."

Meanwhile, the deceased's body will be released at 7 a.m. on November 2. Subsequently, a funeral mass will be held at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, presided over by Cardinal Lee An-bong. The burial site is Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju, Gyeonggi-do.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original