President Lee Jae Myung pays tribute to late Choi Bool-am: “I will remember him as the father of our time”

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung paid tribute to beloved national actor Choi Bool-am, who died on the 30th, saying, “I will remember you, who stood by the people for so many years as the father of our time.”
That day, President Lee posted a message on his social media (SNS) titled “The Father of Our Time: May Choi Bool-am Rest in Peace,” and wrote, “I offer my profound condolences on the passing of beloved national actor Choi Bool-am.”
President Lee paid tribute, saying, “Starting on the theater stage, he was beloved by the public for many years as Captain Park Young-han in ‘Chief Detective’ and Mr. Kim in ‘Country Diaries.’ The image of him standing by us as a detective who upheld justice and a warm, affectionate father will remain in the hearts of the people for a long time.”
He continued, “As he said, ‘To become a good actor, you must first become a good person,’ he showed a warm heart toward people and the world beyond acting. I will deeply cherish his commitment to looking after those in the shadows of society and considering the pain of neighbors in need.”
President Lee mourned him, saying, “The kind voice and hearty laughter in the works you appeared in are still vivid. Sir, please rest in peace.”
According to the broadcasting industry on the 30th, the actor died at around 10 p.m. on the 29th at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where he had been receiving inpatient treatment.
After struggling to get around following surgery for a herniated disc in March last year, he stepped down from KBS 1TV’s current affairs and culture program ‘Korean Cuisine and Dining,’ which he had led for 14 years since 2011. He focused on rehabilitation afterward, but his health is said to have deteriorated sharply recently.
[email protected] Shin Jin-a Reporter