“A towering figure and a father to me” ... At the wake for late actor Choi Bool-am, tributes pour in across generations and fields

[Financial News] As beloved actor Choi Bool-am (born Choi Young-han) enters eternal rest, tributes from all walks of life continue to pour in—quietly, but with profound weight—as people gather to see him off on his final journey.
On the 31st of last month, mourners continued to arrive at the funeral home set up at Asan Medical Center to share their grief, even on the second day of the wake. Actor Oh Ji-myung, Choi’s same-age friend of 60 years, who had known him since their school days, visited and spoke of his profound sorrow. “He was my closest friend. We always used to say, ‘Will you die first, or will I?’ I thought I would be the first to go, but my friend has left us like this, and I somehow feel bad,” he said.
Those who had formed close bonds with him through their work also bowed their heads, remembering him as both a “father” and a “teacher.” The couple Nam Sung-jin and Kim Ji-yeong, who starred together in “Country Diaries,” struggled to hide their grief, calling him “a towering figure and a father-like presence who taught us about life beyond acting.” Song Seung-heon, who appeared alongside him in “You and I,” recalled his warmth: “Even though he was a senior actor I looked up to as someone almost like the sky, he always embraced me, saying, ‘Feel free to treat me just like your dad.’”

The stream of mourners extended beyond the entertainment world and across society. Fellow actors and cultural figures, including Baek Il-seop, Noh Joo-hyun, Jung Joon-ho and Song Il-guk, joined the line of mourners, as did political figures such as People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won and former emergency committee chairman Kim Chong-in. Business and sports figures, including Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung and “Korean Express” Park Chan-ho, also visited the wake to pay their respects, underscoring the immense legacy of the “national actor” who had graced an entire era.
After numerous figures from the cultural and arts world, including “Country Diaries” cast members Kim Hye-ja, Go Doo-shim and Yu In-chon, visited on the first day, tributes from all walks of life have continued unabated.
The actor died at the age of 87 on the night of the 29th while receiving treatment after his health deteriorated. His funeral procession is scheduled for November 2, the fifth day since his passing. In honor of his life as a devout Catholic, a funeral Mass will be held at Yeouido Catholic Church, after which he will be laid to rest.
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