“I’m sorry I was the only one to live this long”... An 87-year-old friend’s heartrending lament for the late Choi Bool-am

[Financial News] Actor Oh Ji-myung gave voice to his anguish, tears of regret in his eyes, before the memorial portrait of his friend of 60 years, the late Choi Bool-am.
After paying his respects at the wake of the late Choi Bool-am, held at the Asan Medical Center funeral home on the 31st of last month, Oh Ji-myung shared his heartache over the loss of his longtime friend. Speaking to reporters, he said, “He was my closest friend. We always used to say, ‘Would you die first, or would I?’ I thought I’d be the one to go first, so now that he’s gone like this, I can’t help feeling sorry.” He could not hide his profound sadness.
The two men’s bond dates back to their days at Jungang High School and, 60 years ago, to the theater stage. After performing together in the 1965 play *Narcissus* and the 1966 production *Yi Sun-sin*, among others, they were both selected as KBS special-hire television actors, launching their broadcasting careers. Recalling those days, Oh added, “I was selected as a ‘parachute hire’ (special recruit) alongside my longtime friend, and was able to make my debut without much hardship.” In 2004, Choi appeared in *Don’t Mess Around*, a film directed by Oh himself, showing that their friendship remained unchanged even in old age.
The two same-age friends, who had walked the same path throughout their lives, have now faced an eternal farewell. The veteran actor’s restrained yet weighty confession—“I’m sorry I lived a little longer”—after losing the colleague he had relied on all his life cast a solemn mood over those gathered around the wake.
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