Actor Choi Bool-am. [ChildFund Korea]
Actor Choi Bool-am. [ChildFund Korea]

South Korean broadcasters are rushing to air special tribute documentaries to honor the late Choi Bool-am, widely known as the "national father" of Korean television.

According to industry sources, KBS will air two memorial specials: "Special Documentary: Our Beloved Guest, Choi Bool-am" at 11:10 p.m. Friday, followed by "Special Documentary: Choi Bool-am, Keeper of the Table — We Remember You" at 8:10 p.m. Sunday.

The network also posted a tribute banner on its official website reading: "The eternal 'father of Korea,' who embraced an era with his warm and unassuming smile — a cherished elder who was always with us. We will remember you forever."

The documentary titles reflect the years Choi spent alongside KBS. From the premiere of KBS 1TV's "Hansik" food travel program in January 2011, Choi spent 14 years and three months traveling kitchens and markets across the country. His deep, unhurried narration — and the head-thrown-back laugh Choi called "paha" — became the face of the show. After undergoing back surgery last March, Choi stepped away from the microphone as mobility declined. At the show's 700th-episode special last April, Choi signed off with a narration: "Looking back, every moment felt like a gift to me as well."

MBC is re-airing its two-part documentary "Paha, It's Choi Bool-am," originally broadcast last May, as a memorial encore. Part one airs at 8:40 p.m. Friday and part two at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The documentary weaves six decades of Choi's acting career into a playlist-style format meant to be heard like a radio program. Park Sang-won, who played Choi's eldest son in the MBC drama series "You and I" (1997–1998), serves as DJ and narrator.

Colleagues' recollections illuminate the man behind the "national father" image. Park Geun-hyung, who worked alongside Choi during their days at the National Theater of Korea, recalled the young actor as "the most handsome and stylish man I had ever seen." Novelist Kim Chun-bok, a high school classmate, compared Choi to James Dean, the idol of their generation. For Ko Doo-shim, Choi was like an earthenware jar — warm and unpretentious even when sitting quietly in a corner. Chae Si-ra and Jung Kyung-ho also share memories of time spent with Choi.

Choi entered the acting world with the 1959 stage production of "Hamlet" and joined KBS as a specially recruited talent in 1967. Choi defined the black-and-white television era as Detective Park Young-han in MBC's "Chief Inspector," and the color TV era as Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in "Country Diaries" (1980–2002). Choi also served as a member of the 14th National Assembly and received the Magnolia Order of Civil Merit and the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit. Inspired by a storyline in "Country Diaries" in which the character adopts a child named Geum-dong, Choi turned his attention to child welfare and served as national patron chairman of ChildFund Korea for 41 years beginning in 1985.

Choi's funeral will be held under the auspices of ChildFund Korea, with Hwang Young-ki, chairman of the organization, serving as head of the funeral committee. The funeral home is at Asan Medical Center, and the procession will depart at 7 a.m. Monday. In keeping with Choi's lifelong wish — "Please stop by the foundation when I'm gone" — the cortege will pass through the ChildFund Korea headquarters in Mugyo-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, before proceeding to Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where Choi will be laid to rest.


shee@heraldcorp.com