Lee Hong-ryeol: "The late Choi Booram suffered greatly in life; may he rest peacefully in a place free from pain" [Star On-Site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Comedian Lee Hong-ryeol visited the wake of the late Choi Booram, who had shared his commitment to giving with the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation for many years, and was moved to tears.

On the 30th, a wake for Choi Booram was set up in Room 20 of the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The bereaved family listed his wife, Kim Min-ja, his sons, Dong-nyeol and Dong-bi, along with other family members.

On that day, Lee Hong-ryeol paid tribute to the late actor, saying, "I had long been aware of his suffering, but I was still shocked. Nevertheless, his continued presence served as a great source of comfort for a long time."

Lee Hong-ryeol recalled, "I addressed him as 'Chairman Choi Booram' because he served as the National Patron Chairman of the Children's Foundation, so I always called him by that title. While he was loved by many citizens as a warm father figure in dramas, his influence at Green Umbrella was beyond imagination. For many years, he approached his work for disadvantaged children with genuine sincerity, and later, when I was appointed as an ambassador, he showed me the path I should follow."

He continued, "The role of Patron Chairman Choi Booram is irreplaceable. I cannot tell how often I thought that even if he was in pain, simply being present would have given us energy to continue our activities. I had known about his illness for several years, but I did not expect him to pass away so suddenly. It was sudden and tragic news. He suffered a lot."

Additionally, Lee Hong-ryeol shared, "In 1986, I made a donation to Green Umbrella (formerly the Korea Welfare Foundation), where Chairman Choi Booram was serving as Patron Chairman. He appointed me as an ambassador and personally demonstrated how to carry out activities in the community, guiding me along the way. I could only focus on my work by looking up to him. Now, without someone to lean on, I feel frustrated and heartbroken."

He added, "Once, the chairman asked, 'How old are you as an ambassador?' When I answered, '70,' he said, '70 is the best time. Work hard for about 10 years.' Going forward, as long as my health permits, I want to work diligently on sharing activities, just as Chairman Choi Booram instructed in his final words, and carry on his spirit of giving."

Lee Hong-ryeol added, "He was in so much pain. I watched him move around leaning on a cane and using a wheelchair. I pray that he may rest peacefully in a place free from pain."

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

The late actor's funeral will be held at 7 a.m. on November 2. Following this, a funeral mass will be conducted at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, presided over by Cardinal Nham Soo-jeong. The burial site is the Donghwa Memorial Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original