President Lee Mourns Choi Bulam, Reflects on His Words: "First, You Must Become a Person"

"The Father of Our Time, Remembered for Years to Come"
"I Will Deeply Honor His Warm Heart and Wish to Look After Society's Shadows"

President Lee Jae-myung expressed his condolences on the 30th following the death of beloved actor Choi Bulam, saying, "I will remember the teacher who stood by the people for so many years as the father of our time."

Actor Choi Bulam, whose real name was Choi Younghan and who was known as “the nation's father” for embodying the image of Korean fathers, has died at the age of 87. According to broadcasting industry sources on the 30th, Choi died at around 10 p.m. on the 29th while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

Yonhap News Agency, Oct. 30, 2026

That day, President Lee posted a message on his X account (formerly Twitter) titled "The Father of Our Time, I Pray for the Peaceful Rest of Mr. Choi Bulam," saying, "I extend my deepest condolences on the passing of beloved actor Choi Bulam."

President Lee paid tribute to him, saying, "After starting out on the theater stage, he was loved by the public for many years as Chief Inspector Park Younghan in 'Chief Inspector' and Chairman Kim in 'Country Diaries.' As a detective who upheld justice and a warmhearted father, he was with us, and his presence will remain in the hearts of the people for a long time."

In particular, President Lee reflected on the principles of acting that the late actor had emphasized during his lifetime and paid tribute not only to his achievements as an actor but also to his warm concern for society's most vulnerable.

President Lee said, "As he once said, 'To become a good actor, you must first become a good person,' he showed a warm heart for people and the world that went beyond acting. I will deeply honor his wish to look after society's shadows and consider the pain of neighbors facing hardship."

He added, "The kind voice and hearty laughter in the works he appeared in are still vivid. I will remember the teacher who stood by the people for so many years as the father of our time." President Lee concluded his tribute by saying, "Teacher, may you rest in peace."

Meanwhile, the late actor died at a hospital in Seoul on the night of October 29. He was 87. After making his debut on the theater stage in 1959, he was beloved as a national actor for portraying the lives, joys and sorrows of Koreans in dramas such as 'Chief Inspector' and 'Country Diaries.' He also hosted the cultural program 'Korean Cuisine and the Table' for many years, helping share the everyday lives of ordinary people and the warmth of their neighbors.

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