A familiar smile in the photo... Mourners stream to the funeral of ‘the nation’s father,’ Choi Bool-am

[Financial News] The ‘nation’s father’ was smiling in the photograph. Morning of the 30th, at the Asan Medical Center funeral hall in Songpa District, Seoul. The information screen for the late actor Choi Bool-am’s funeral displayed a black-and-white photograph alongside his real name, ‘Choi Young-han.’ As mourners arrived one after another, many reporters waited at the entrance to the funeral hall.
At the entrance to Room 20 of the funeral hall, condolence flags from the Jungang Alumni Association and Green Umbrella stood side by side. Around 50 condolence wreaths sent by people from various fields who had known the deceased during his lifetime arrived at the funeral hall. Among them, wreaths sent by actors Shin Hyun-joon and Ko Du-shim also drew attention.
Public visitation began at 10 a.m. that day, and former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon visited the funeral hall early to pay his respects to the deceased.
The former minister played Yong-sik, the second son of Mr. Kim of Yangchon-ri, a character played by the deceased in Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)’s drama ‘Country Diaries.’ He said he had called the late actor ‘Father’ in everyday life, and expressed regret that he would not see him again.
The deceased was familiar to audiences for his roles as Chief Park Young-han in MBC’s ‘Chief Detective’ and Mr. Kim in ‘Country Diaries.’ On Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) 1TV’s ‘Korean Cuisine and Dining,’ he traveled around the country, sharing the food and lives of ordinary neighbors.
The funeral will be held as a Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation funeral. The deceased served as chair of Green Umbrella’s national supporters’ association and continued to support children in difficult circumstances. As chairman of Zero Camp, an incorporated association, he also supported cultural and arts education for juvenile inmates and their reintegration into society.
The deceased passed away on the night of the 29th while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo District, Seoul. He was 87. After undergoing surgery for a herniated disc last year, he left ‘Korean Cuisine and Dining’ and had been receiving rehabilitation treatment.
His survivors include his wife, actor Kim Min-ja, and their son Dongnyeok and daughter Dongbi. The encoffining ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on November 1, and the funeral procession will depart at 7 a.m. on the 2nd. He will be laid to rest at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park.
[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter