Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Pays Respects to Late Choi Bool-am: “It’s Bittersweet He Passed Away Without Seeing the Nodeul Island Project Completed”

[Financial News] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the funeral home of the late actor Choi Bool-am (born Choi Young-han) to pay his respects. Oh expressed his condolences as he recalled his long-standing connection with Choi, who served for many years as a Seoul City goodwill ambassador.
On the afternoon of the 30th, Oh laid flowers and offered comfort to the bereaved family at the funeral home set up at Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. After paying his respects, he said, “He was already serving as a Seoul City goodwill ambassador when I became mayor in 2006,” adding that Choi had greatly helped promote Seoul for 28 years.
He also recalled how Choi had chaired a committee related to Nodeul Island and devoted much attention and affection to it. Saying the arts-island project for Nodeul Island currently underway is expected to be completed in two to three years, he said, “It’s bittersweet that he won’t get to see it completed.” Remembering Choi as a father figure who was respected and loved by the public, he said, “I feel a great sense of emptiness as we bid farewell to him.”
Choi was Seoul’s longest-serving goodwill ambassador, having served in the role since 1998. In 2023, he received a plaque of appreciation from Mayor Oh in recognition of his work as an ambassador. Earlier that day, Oh also posted a tribute on Facebook, saying he would remember Choi’s dedication in serving as the face of Seoul for so many years.
Choi won the public’s affection as Chief Park Young-han in “Chief Detective” and Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in “Country Diaries.” From 2011 through last year, he hosted KBS 1TV’s “Korean Cuisine and Dining.” As chair of ChildFund Korea’s national supporters’ association, he also worked to support children in Korea and abroad.
He died on the 29th while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He was 87. His funeral will be held over five days under the auspices of ChildFund Korea.
The funeral procession is scheduled to depart at around 7:40 a.m. on November 2. A funeral Mass will be held at Yeouido Catholic Church at around 9 a.m. that day, followed by a farewell at ChildFund Korea headquarters at around 10:40 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
[email protected] Shin Jin-a, Jang In-seo Reporter