'National Father' Choi Bool-am passes away at 87 after 60-year acting career

Actor Choi Bool-am (real name Choi Yeong-han) passed away at approximately 10:00 p.m. on the 29th while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He was 87 years old. According to industry sources on the 30th, the late actor had been struggling with mobility issues following spinal disc surgery last March, which led to his departure from the KBS 1TV current affairs and educational program 'Korean Cuisine and Dining,' which he had hosted since 2011. Although he had been focusing on rehabilitation, his health reportedly deteriorated rapidly. Having begun his career in stage plays, he met audiences over many years through roles such as Chief Park Yeong-han in the drama 'Chief Inspector' and Chairman Kim in 'Country Diaries.' He was also beloved as a host of current affairs and educational programs, earning him the nickname "National Father."

Rehabilitation after back surgery leads to departure from 'Korean Cuisine and Dining'

Following spinal disc surgery last March, Choi Bool-am experienced difficulties with movement, resulting in his withdrawal from the KBS 1TV 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' program he had hosted since 2011. Industry sources reported that while he worked hard on rehabilitation after the surgery, his health declined sharply. He passed away on the night of the 29th while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, with the news of his death being reported on the 30th. He was 87 years old at the time of his passing.

Choi Bool-am met viewers through 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' from 2011 until last year. This program was one of the long-running current affairs and educational shows he hosted. Previously, from 1999 to 2008, he hosted the KBS current affairs investigative program 'Campaign Headquarters for a Better Country.' While active as a drama actor, he also appeared consistently as a broadcast host. However, due to mobility issues following his surgery last year, he was unable to continue hosting 'Korean Cuisine and Dining.'

In May this year, an MBC two-part documentary titled 'Paha, I'm Choi Bool-am,' which covers his 60-year acting career, was released. While it was initially known that Choi Bool-am would appear in the documentary, he did not appear before the camera at the request of his family, who wanted him to focus on rehabilitation. Other reports also stated that he did not participate in the documentary due to his family's request to focus on his treatment. The documentary highlighted his acting career and was released in May, prior to his passing.

Debuted in the play 'Hamlet'... moved into TV dramas

Choi Bool-am was born in Jemulpo District, Incheon, in 1939, though his official family registry records his birth year as 1940. He graduated from Joongang High School, Seorabeol College of Arts, and the Department of Theater and Film at Hanyang University. Aspiring to be a director, he debuted in the play 'Hamlet' with the theater company 'Experimental Theater Society' in 1959. He began his full-scale acting career after becoming a member of the National Theater Company of Korea in 1965. His transition from stage work to broadcasting marked the beginning of his 60-year acting career.

He made his debut in TV dramas in 1967, when he was selected as a special recruitment 6th generation talent for Seoul Central Broadcasting, now known as KBS. In the drama 'Grand Prince Suyang,' he played the role of the elderly Kim Jong-seo. While his birth year is known to be 1939, his official registry lists him as born in 1940, leading to different notations depending on the source.

His career spanned stage plays, TV dramas, and current affairs and educational programs. After appearing on stage in 'Hamlet,' he worked as a member of the National Theater Company of Korea, and after being selected as a broadcast talent in 1967, he began appearing in dramas. He established himself as an actor through roles in MBC dramas. His representative works include 'Chief Inspector,' 'Country Diaries,' and 'You and I.' Among these, 'Chief Inspector' and 'Country Diaries' were broadcast for more than 10 years each.

From 'Chief Inspector's' Park Yeong-han to 'Country Diaries's' Chairman Kim

Choi Bool-am played Chief Park Yeong-han in the MBC drama 'Chief Inspector.' This work was broadcast from 1971 to 1984 and then continued from 1985 to 1989. It has been introduced as the progenitor of Korean-style investigative procedurals, with a total broadcast period of 18 years. He gained nationwide popularity by playing the same character for a long time and was also known as the "Eternal Chief Inspector."

In the MBC drama 'Country Diaries,' which began in 1980, he played the role of Chairman Kim from Yangchon-ri. This drama was introduced as the longest-running drama in Korea, broadcasting until 2002. The broadcast periods for the two works are as follows:

He appeared as Captain Park in the MBC drama 'You and I,' which aired from 1997 to 1998. While 'Chief Inspector' and 'Country Diaries' are representative works that met viewers over long periods, 'You and I' was a work from the late 1990s.

A familiar broadcaster and host of educational programs

Beyond acting, Choi Bool-am hosted current affairs and educational programs. He hosted KBS's 'Campaign Headquarters for a Better Country' from 1999 to 2008 and 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' on KBS 1TV from 2011 until last year. 'Campaign Headquarters for a Better Country' was introduced as an investigative program, and 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' was a program he hosted for 14 years. He met viewers as a host until his departure from 'Korean Cuisine and Dining' due to mobility issues following his spinal surgery last year.

Through his steady appearances in long-running dramas and educational programs, Choi Bool-am was loved for his down-to-earth and modest image. In particular, his trademark was his habit of tilting his head back and laughing, saying "Paha~." The broadcasting industry noted that he was loved as a friendly actor across generations.

The documentary 'Paha, I'm Choi Bool-am,' covering his 60-year acting career, was released in two parts in May this year. Choi Bool-am did not appear in the documentary himself following his family's request to focus on his rehabilitation. He passed away on the 29th, and the news of his death was conveyed through the broadcasting industry on the 30th.

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