"'Paha~' Laughing Heartily, He Was Korea's Beloved Father Figure"... 'Country Diaries' Star Choi Bulam Dies at 87

Died at a hospital on the night of the 29th while receiving inpatient care
Health worsened after herniated disc surgery last year
A 67-year acting career starring in "Chief Inspector" and "Country Diaries"

Actor Choi Bulam (whose real name was Choi Yeonghan), who stayed by viewers' sides for more than half a century as Chief Park in "Chief Inspector" and Chairman Kim in "Country Diaries," has died. He was 87.

Actor Choi Bulam.

According to the broadcasting industry on Oct. 30, Choi died at around 10 p.m. on Oct. 29 at a hospital in Gangseo District, Seoul, where he had been receiving inpatient treatment. His health began to deteriorate in March last year. After undergoing surgery for a herniated disc, he had difficulty moving around and stepped down from KBS 1TV's "Korean Table" in 2025, after hosting the program for 14 years since 2011. As he worked on rehabilitation, his family said in March this year, "He is currently hospitalized, receiving rehabilitation treatment and recovering." In June, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young also posted that he had felt reassured by Choi's familiar "paha" laugh when he visited him in his hospital room. However, reports say Choi's health deteriorated rapidly afterward.

Born in Incheon in 1939 (1940 according to his family register), Choi began his acting career in theater. He had dreamed of becoming a director, but made his debut in 1959 in the theater troupe Experimental Theater Company's production of "Hamlet." He joined the National Theater Company of Korea in 1965 and entered television drama in 1967 after being selected as a sixth-generation special-recruitment actor by Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS). Over the next 67 years, he moved between theater, film and television drama.

His best-known works were two long-running dramas. He appeared as Chief Park Yeong-han in MBC's "Chief Inspector" (1971-1984, 1985-1989) for 18 years, and played Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in MBC's "Country Diaries" (1980-2002), Korea's longest-running drama, for 22 years. He was also widely loved as Captain Park in MBC's "You and I" (1997-1998).

Actor Choi Bulam.

He was an actor who took on roles of every kind. At 30, he played an elderly man in MBC's inaugural drama, "Reverse Wind" (1969). In his 40s, he portrayed former President Syngman Rhee in his 80s in "The First Republic" (1981-1982) and "The Second Republic" (1989-1990). In April 2018, he returned to the stage for the first time in 25 years in the play "When the Wind Blows and the Stars Tremble." In 2024, he made a special appearance in MBC's "Chief Inspector 1958," a prequel to "Chief Inspector," showing that Chief Park Yeong-han was still going strong.

Choi was also involved in politics for a time. At the urging of the late Chung Ju-yung, honorary chairman of Hyundai Group, he joined the United People's Party as a proportional-representation candidate in 1992 and served as a member of the 14th National Assembly (1992-1996). He ran as a New Korea Party candidate in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo B district in the 15th general election but was defeated. He returned to acting in 1996 with "Country Diaries."

Choi also built a long career as a host. He led KBS's "Good Country Campaign Headquarters" from 1999 to 2008, and drew on that experience when he took charge of "Korean Table." His down-to-earth, everyman image became firmly associated with the way he tilted his head back and laughed, "Paha!" In the 1990s, the short humor books known as the "Choi Bulam Series," featuring him as the main character, became popular, and many actors and broadcasters imitated his laugh.

Actor Choi Boolam. Yonhap News

He shared a special bond with his colleagues and family. He appeared alongside actor Kim Hye-ja in works ranging from "The Frog Husband" (1969-1970) to "Palace" (2006). Their portrayal of a married couple over 22 years in "Country Diaries" often led people to mistake them for a real-life couple. Choi fell in love at first sight with Kim Min-ja, who was appearing in the KBS drama "Lady Jeongdong," and transferred to KBS. They married in 1970 after dating for four years.

He also had an extensive record of awards and public service. His honors included the Best Actor Award in the television category at the Baeksang Arts Awards (1974 and 1978), the Best Actor Award in the theater category at the same awards (1969 and 1971), the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Grand Bell Awards (1978), the Best Actor Award at the Grand Bell Awards (1979), the National Order of Merit, Mokryeon Medal (1998), and the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit (2014). Recognized for raising the profile of the police through "Chief Inspector," he was first appointed an honorary police officer in 1972. In 2024, he became the first civilian to be appointed honorary chief of the National Office of Investigation, with the rank of superintendent general. He also worked to support children and young people as national chair of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation's supporters' association and chair of the board of the nonprofit Zero Camp.

He is survived by his wife, Kim Min-ja, and their son Dongnyeok and daughter Dongbi.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.