Kim Hye-soo’s swollen eyes → Kim Hye-ja, “We will meet again after death”... Sea of tears at the late Choi Booram’s wake [Star Scene] [Comprehensive Report]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

As a line of condolences from figures in politics and business as well as colleagues and juniors in the cultural and arts fields continued to visit the wake of the late “national actor” Choi Booram, the scene was turned into a sea of tears by the sorrow of bidding farewell to the deceased.

On the 30th, the 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 were his wife Kim Min-ja, his 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 Hwang Young-gi, chairman of the Green Umbrella, with former Prime Ministers Lee Soo-seong and Lee Nak-yoon serving as committee members.

On this day, wreaths and mourning banners were placed at the wake from political and business 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.

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea; former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum; former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon; current Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young; Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon; former Executive Committee Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival Kim Dong-ho; actors Na Moon-hee, Kim Seong-hwan, Cha In-pyo, Park Eun-soo, Kim Hye-soo, Kang Suk-woo, Im Hyun-sik, Lee Hong-ryul, Lee Gye-in, Lee Kyung-jin, Yang Taek-jo, Ko Doo-sim, Kim Hye-ja, and Yoon Yeo-jung; singer Jin Sung; hanbok designer Park Sul-nyo; model Lee Hyun-i; and others visited the wake in person to bid farewell to the deceased.

In particular, Kim Hye-soo stayed at the wake for a long time to express her condolences. After finishing her visit, Kim Hye-soo had red-rimmed eyes and puffy eyelids. She continued to shed tears even after leaving the wake, evoking sympathy.

The grief of colleagues and junior actors also continued. Park Eun-soo recalled the moment she last communicated with the late actor. “It has been one or two months since our last contact. I told him I would go see him, but he said not to come. That was the last time. It is so regrettable that I could not see him,” she said.

Park Eun-soo also described the late Choi Booram as a “good senior who was a great actor and like an older brother to me, with whom I shared a deep bond.” She added, “There is no such actor. There will never be another one. He is someone our juniors should look up to in many ways.” She continued, “The passing of my senior means we have lost a very great actor. It is so heartbreaking,” revealing her grief.

Kang Suk-woo said, “I heard he passed away in the early morning and was very shocked. A true national actor of South Korea has passed away.” He added, “He was called our big brother and received much love, but because he left us so early, I felt a sense of loss that the first generation is departing.”

He continued, “I worked on several dramas with him, but we did not actually become very close. That senior liked drinking, and since I do not drink, there were no gatherings after filming.” He confessed, “I used to gaze at my senior wistfully, but I missed the opportunity.”

Kang Suk-woo also stated, “Even without my explanation, with just two works, ‘Jeonwon Ilgi’ (Country Diary) and ‘Susa Banjang’ (Detective Chief), he is a great actor who will be remembered forever.” He recalled, “Personally, while working on the drama ‘Yeongung Sidae’ (Heroic Age), I often regretted that I should have treated him with more respect and care.” He added, “Many people besides me served him, so opportunities did not come to me. That part is a regret, and it seems like something I did wrong.”

Visits from political figures who had connections with the late Choi Booram during his lifetime also continued. When asked about his connection with the deceased, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young said, “Even when I visited him four months ago, he greeted me warmly with a bright smile. It is incredibly painful.” He added, “I believe that Mr. Choi Booram, who was always by the side of the people, will be remembered in our hearts for a long time.”

He continued, “He told me to have a drink when he was discharged from the hospital, so I was looking forward to that day, but it is regrettable that he left us so suddenly. I just offered a drink to his spirit and came out.”

The late Choi Booram was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Cultural Merit. Regarding this, Minister Choi said, “I think everyone’s hearts will feel empty today. That is because the teacher left us with truly so much.” He explained, “He was someone who deserved to receive the medal naturally, so I delivered it on behalf of the people.”

Minister Choi also added, “Everything is regrettable and painful in this situation. With those feelings in mind, I conveyed words of comfort to the bereaved family.”

Mayor Oh Se-hoon also stated, “I have a deep connection with the deceased.” He recalled, “When I became mayor in 2006, he was already serving as a Seoul City ambassador. He served as a Seoul City ambassador for 30 years and provided much help.”

He continued, “What is particularly memorable is that he took on the role of chairman of the Nodul Island, Han River Art Island Promotion Committee, which is currently underway, and showed great interest and affection.” He expressed regret, saying, “The project is now nearing its final stage and will be completed in two to three years, but it is bitter that he left us before seeing the fruit that will be loved by many citizens.”

Mayor Oh added, “He was truly a ‘national father’ and ‘national uncle’ who was respected and loved by the people.” He concluded, “My heart feels very empty as I bid farewell to the teacher.”

Tributes from entertainment industry colleagues who had spent many years together continued without pause.

When asked about his feelings upon visiting the wake, Im Hyun-sik said, “Seeing my senior go first made me shudder, as he was playing the role of a senior until the very end.” He recalled, “We have lived together for 60 years, from college days to now. Senior Choi Booram was truly the most Korean and literary actor.”

He continued, “I loved and appreciated those aspects of my senior since I was young. Just appearing in a work with him was an honor, and that has always been my mindset.” He confided, “When we go to the afterlife, I hope to start a decent production company and work on projects together.”

When asked about his words of condolence to the bereaved family, he replied, “I told my senior to stay healthy. That way, our juniors can follow one by one and meet again in good health, right?”

Lee Hong-ryul said, “I had long known about his illness, but I was still shocked. Nevertheless, his presence itself provided great comfort for a long time,” paying tribute to the deceased.

Lee Hong-ryul also shared, “Once, Chairman Choi Booram asked me, ‘How old are you?’ and when I said ‘70,’ he replied, ‘70 is the best age. Try working hard for about 10 years.’” He added, “As long as my health permits, I want to actively engage in sharing activities, just like Chairman Choi Booram’s last words, and carry on his spirit of sharing.”

Recalling the late Choi Booram during his lifetime, Lee Hong-ryul said, “He was in so much pain. I watched him move with a cane and a wheelchair.” He added, “I pray for his peace in a place without pain.”

After finishing his visit, Lee Gye-in continued to sob. In particular, he shed tears while saying, “Go well, senior. What should I do if you leave me behind?”

Kim Hye-ja also had red-rimmed eyes. She said emotionally, “I don’t think of it as the last time. We will meet again after death, so don’t say it’s the last time.” She added, “There is no last time depending on how you think about it. I have many memories of that person and will live remembering them all. Why is it the last time?”

When asked what she wanted to say to the deceased, Kim Hye-ja said, “I want to tell him to meet me. How long can I possibly live?” She revealed her affection for the deceased by adding, “We will meet soon. We will meet soon. He is someone I miss so much. Thank you.”

The late Choi Booram 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.

It is reported that the late actor had difficulty moving due to a herniated disc last year and stepped down from “Korean Table,” a KBS 1TV documentary program he had hosted for 14 years since 2011. He subsequently focused on rehabilitation, but his health reportedly deteriorated rapidly recently.

The late Choi Booram debuted in the play “Hamlet” in 1959 and gained great love as a “national actor” through roles such as the righteous Detective Chief Park Young-han in the MBC drama “Susa Banjang” (Detective Chief) and Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in “Jeonwon Ilgi” (Country Diary).

The late actor’s body will be released privately on the morning of November 2. Subsequently, a funeral mass will be held at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, presided over by Cardinal Nham Soo-jeong. The burial site is Donghwa Memorial Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original