Baek Il-seop pays his respects at the funeral of the late Choi Bool-am: “We said we’d meet again, but it was so sudden”

[Financial News] Actor Baek Il-seop visited the funeral parlor for the late Choi Bool-am at Asan Medical Center on the 31st to pay his respects.
Baek Il-seop arrived at the funeral parlor that day leaning on a cane. After paying his respects, he could not hide his grief at the loss. “I heard he’d had surgery for a herniated disc, and since I’d been through that myself, I thought he’d be all right,” he said. “We promised to meet again after he was discharged, but I never imagined he would be gone so suddenly.” He added, “I thought he’d easily live past 90,” expressing his sorrow.
Baek Il-seop recalled how he often spent time with the deceased and fellow actors Kim Yong-gun and Lee Kye-in. “Rather than making a wide circle of acquaintances, actors tend to spend most of their time with a few close colleagues, both senior and junior,” he said. “Whenever I shared a drink with Bool-am, his eyes looked so peaceful.” Saying he planned to visit the funeral parlor once more, he added, “I still haven’t said everything I wanted to say,” expressing deep regret.
The late Choi Bool-am died at around 10:30 p.m. on the 29th, aged 87, while receiving hospital treatment as his health worsened. His funeral procession will take place on November 2, and a funeral Mass is scheduled to be held at Yeouido Catholic Church, in accordance with his wishes as a devout Catholic.
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