“He Was a True Adult” ... ChildFund Korea Reads Tribute Statement for Late Choi Bool-am [Full Text]

[Financial News] Hwang Young-ki, chair of ChildFund Korea and head of the funeral committee for the late actor Choi Bool-am (whose real name was Choi Young-han), paid tribute to him on the 30th by reading a statement that remembered him as “a true adult who embraced children as ‘another me’ throughout his life.” He also said ChildFund Korea would continue the deceased’s work in child welfare.
At a briefing held at the funeral home at Seoul Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at 2:30 p.m. that day, Hwang recalled the deceased’s support for children in Korea and overseas, as well as his cultural and arts education activities for juvenile inmates. He said ChildFund Korea would also set up memorial spaces on the first floor of its headquarters and on its website so that members of the public and supporters could mourn together.
The funeral procession will take place at around 7:40 a.m. on November 2. A Funeral Mass will be held at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, at around 9 a.m. that day, followed by a farewell at ChildFund Korea’s headquarters in Mugyo-dong, Jung District, Seoul, at around 10:40 a.m.[Full text of the memorial statement by Hwang Young-ki, chair of ChildFund Korea]Esteemed fellow citizens, I am Hwang Young-ki, chair of ChildFund Korea.
I stand here with a heavy heart.
Choi Bool-am, the father of the Korean people and chair of the National Supporters Association, who devoted 45 years to the happiness of children, passed away yesterday, October 29, 2026, at 10:30 p.m. while receiving inpatient treatment in Seoul. He was 87.
On behalf of all our employees, supporters across the country, and the children, ChildFund Korea bows its head in deep mourning for the deceased’s noble life. May he rest in peace.
Before he was an actor, the late Choi Bool-am, our chair of the Supporters Association, was a true adult who embraced children as “another me” throughout his life.
The connection between the chair and ChildFund Korea began in 1981 with a small bond formed with child actors on the set of the drama Country Diaries. That connection led to group sponsorship with the cast of Ordinary People and became the first seed in establishing a culture of “sponsorship” as an expression of noblesse oblige throughout South Korea’s entertainment industry.
Since being appointed chair of ChildFund Korea’s National Supporters Association in 1985, Chair Choi Bool-am always kept children in mind and stayed close to the field with a heart devoted to them.
In the 1990s, when resources for child welfare in Korea were woefully scarce, he began traveling personally to the Americas and Europe in 1994 to organize overseas supporters’ associations, carrying out philanthropic diplomacy. As a result of his dedication, a network of 25 overseas supporters’ associations in eight countries has been established.
Despite his advancing age, he personally visited remote areas of Ethiopia in 2007, Uganda in 2014, and Kenya in 2015, embracing children overseas who were suffering from hunger and disease.
Beginning in 2012, he spent 14 years teaching drama and musical performance to juvenile inmates at the juvenile prison in Gimcheon, helping them return to society. He also founded the nonprofit organization Zero Camp to help at-risk youth and young people outside the school system regain their self-esteem, showing society the power of “empathy and support,” which is stronger than punishment.
Chair Choi Bool-am left many lasting marks on our society as a broadcaster, a film professional, and an adult deeply committed to child welfare. He received the Mokryeon Medal in 1998 for his contribution to improving child welfare and promoting a culture of sharing, and the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit in 2014 for his contribution to the development of popular culture.
I believe Chair Choi Bool-am asked that his final journey be marked with a funeral organized by ChildFund Korea because he took pride in a life spent thinking of children’s bright future over many years and personally putting child welfare into practice.
At the 2015 ceremony marking his 30th anniversary as chair of the National Supporters Association, Chair Choi Bool-am said:
“I could never imagine being happy all by myself; we must see children as another ‘me.’ What people need most is other people.”
We will never forget the heart of Chair Choi Bool-am, who always said, “It is an adult’s role to give children hope.”
ChildFund Korea will see the deceased off on his final journey with the utmost respect and solemnity.
I am serving as chair of the funeral committee. Many people have agreed to serve as committee members out of their grief for the deceased, including former Prime Ministers Lee Soo-sung and Lee Nak-yeon, former National Assembly member Hong Moon-jong, Father Kim Seong-eun, Han Il-su, secretary-general of the National Assembly Legislative Policy Research Association, CEO Yang Ok-kyung, and executives of the National Supporters Association.
The encoffinment is scheduled for November 1, and the funeral procession will take place at around 7:40 a.m. on November 2.
Afterward, a Funeral Mass will be held at Yeouido Cathedral at around 9 a.m., followed by a farewell at ChildFund Korea’s headquarters in Mugyo-dong at around 10:40 a.m.
ChildFund Korea will set up memorial spaces on the first floor of its headquarters and on its website for members of the public and supporters who wish to accompany Chair Choi Bool-am on his final journey, so that everyone who remembers him can mourn together.
ChildFund Korea will not remain in grief; it will honor the deceased by further deepening the roots of the values he upheld throughout his life in our society.
Thank you.
[email protected] Shin Jin-a, Jang In-seo Reporter