Mourners gathered at the funeral hall for veteran actor Choi Bool-am in Seoul on October 30, as former Culture Minister Yoo In-chon, actress Na Moon-hee and hanbok designer Park Sool-nyeo each paid their respects following his death at 87, according to SPOTV News.
The condolence visits took place at the funeral hall set up at Seoul Asan Hospital.
Yoo, who worked with Choi as an actor before entering public service, spoke about a relationship that began at his debut and lasted through 22 years on MBC’s “Country Diaries.” He said Choi played his father in his debut production and again in “Country Diaries,” adding that he had always called him father in everyday life and still felt that way.
“For the last two or three months, I could not see him,” Yoo said, recalling that Choi had told him they would meet again once he felt a little better, perhaps around September. “In the end, I received the news of his death. It is deeply regrettable and heartbreaking,” he said.
Na Moon-hee, fighting back tears, addressed Choi directly. “Choi Bool-am, you have gone first. You were our pride, and it is deeply disappointing in one corner of my heart that you have gone first like this. Farewell,” she said. She added that she shared so many memories with him that she would simply cherish them.
Park Sool-nyeo said she had come to deliver mourning clothes for Choi’s wife. She explained that she had begun preparing the traditional burial garments when she first heard Choi was ill, and that about three weeks ago his wife had asked her to prepare them in earnest. She said the robe, trousers and headwear were already made, and that she had hurried over to deliver the mourning clothes his wife would wear.
Choi died at around 10 p.m. on October 29 at a hospital in Seoul’s Gangseo District, SPOTV News reported. He had undergone back surgery in March last year, then stepped down from “Korean Table” after difficulty moving, and focused on rehabilitation as his health worsened.
Choi built his reputation through “Chief Investigator” and “Country Diaries,” and later hosted “Korean Table” for 14 years.
No further funeral details were included in the SPOTV News report. As colleagues continue to arrive at the Seoul funeral hall, further tributes from the entertainment world are expected to follow.
