From Colleagues and Juniors to Political Figures, Mourners Flock to the Wake of the Late Choi Bool-am, the "Nation's Father"

Na Moon-hee, Cha In-pyo, Kim Sung-hwan, Gil Yong-woo, Sunwoo Yong-yeo and Kim Hye-soo
Park Sul-nyeo, who made his burial clothes... Oh Se-hoon, Kim Min-seok and Kim Boo-kyum, among others

After actor Choi Bool-am, known as “the nation’s father,” died on the night of October 29 at the age of 87, mourners from the cultural, artistic and political spheres have continued to visit his wake.

A notice listing the deceased's funeral room is displayed at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center. Photo by Joint Press Corps.

On October 30, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, along with actors Na Moon-hee, Cha In-pyo, Kim Sung-hwan, Gil Yong-woo, Sunwoo Yong-yeo and Kim Hye-soo, broadcaster Lee Sang-byeok, singer Jinseong and hanbok designer Park Sul-nyeo visited the wake at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to pay their final respects.

Yoo In-chon: “I called him Father, so this is deeply heartbreaking”

Former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon paid his respects as soon as the wake was set up. Yoo, who played Yongsik, the second son of Chairman Kim in Yangchon-ri, in MBC’s Country Diaries, said, “He played my father in my debut work, Gangnam Family, and lived as my father for 22 years in Country Diaries, so on a personal level, he was family. I always called him Father, even in everyday life, so receiving the news of his passing so suddenly is deeply regrettable and heartbreaking.”

Na Moon-hee, who came to the funeral hall with a companion supporting her, mourned the deceased, saying, “He was a source of pride for us, and it leaves a great void in my heart that he has gone before us. I have so many memories of him, and I will cherish them.”

Actor Cha In-pyo, who played the deceased’s son in MBC’s drama You and I, said, “On set, Mr. Choi was a wonderful person who treated much younger colleagues with respect and as equals. I pray that he rests in peace in heaven, free from pain and suffering.”

Actor Kim Sung-hwan recalled him as “a man who helped write the history of Korean dramas alongside senior actor Lee Soon-jae and cared deeply for his juniors.” Singer Jinseong offered his condolences, saying, “Whenever life was difficult, I would draw strength by retracing the path you had taken. I hope your life in the next world is always filled with good things.”

Broadcaster Lee Sang-byeok said, “We worked together on the ‘Welcome to Korea’ campaign during the Kim Dae-jung administration, and he also appeared frequently on Morning Forum. He was so passionate that he helped every program he worked on enjoy a long run, so his passing at such an early age is heartbreaking.” Kim Hye-soo, who had called the deceased “Father” ever since she played his daughter alongside his wife, Kim Min-ja, in the 1987 drama Samogok, was seen sobbing throughout her visit to the wake. Actors Yang Taek-jo, Hong Soon-chang and the married couple Lee Chun-hee and Jeon Hye-jin also visited. Actors Kim Hye-ja, who played the deceased’s wife for decades in Country Diaries, and singer Cho Yong-pil, as well as J-Hope of BTS, sent condolence wreaths.

Hanbok designer Park Sul-nyeo, who made the deceased’s burial clothes, spoke of her special bond with him after paying her respects. “When I heard a year ago that he was ill, I made a burial robe for him with all my heart,” Park said. “He was someone who shared the warmth of an ordinary person through his hearty laughter, so I’m sure he has gone to a good place in heaven where he is truly needed.”

Political and public-sector figures also pay their respects

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who visited the wake, recalled, “He was already serving as a public relations ambassador for Seoul when I first became mayor, and he helped promote the city greatly by serving as an ambassador for nearly 30 years.”

Kim Jong-cheol, acting Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency, visited the wake to pay tribute to the deceased, with whom the police had maintained a relationship for more than 50 years since he was appointed an honorary police officer in 1972. “The deceased will be remembered forever as ‘Chief of Investigation’ by all 140,000 police officers and 50 million citizens,” he said. “We will honor his noble wishes and work to become a police force trusted by the public.”

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who had faced the deceased in a National Assembly election 30 years ago, said after paying his respects, “During that election 30 years ago, he was always so warm toward me that I never thought of him as a rival. Knowing that was how he felt makes me especially sad and grateful.”

Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil, who formed a bond with the deceased, a native of Incheon, while serving as mayor of the city, said, “I will never forget his warm-hearted support for the region, including his help promoting the Asian Games when I was mayor of Incheon.”

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum paid tribute to him as “the most quintessentially Korean symbol and the ‘father of Korea’ whom people could rely on wholeheartedly during a time when the nation was building momentum for industrialization and economic development and finding the courage to say, ‘Let’s do this.’”

After the 1981 Country Diaries episode about the adoption of Geum-dong, the deceased served as chair of Green Umbrella’s national sponsorship committee for more than 40 years, starting in 1985. His funeral will be held by the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation. The funeral procession will depart at 7:40 a.m. on November 2. A funeral Mass will then be held at 9 a.m. the same day at Yeouido-dong Catholic Church in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, presided over by Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung, before the procession moves to the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation at 10:40 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park.

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