'I'm sorry I'm still alive': Mourners pay tribute to Choi Bool-am on second day

'Country Diary' cast members Kim Ji-young and Nam Sung-jin among those paying respects; Song Seung-heon, Euisun Chung and Park Chan-ho also attend

Actor Choi Bool-am [Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government]

"He was my closest friend. I thought I would go first, but he went before me. I'm sorry I'm still alive."

Actor Oh Ji-myung could not hide the grief of losing a lifelong companion. The two had met on the theater stage and entered KBS together as the first actors recruited through a special talent selection — "parachuted into KBS," as Oh put it — and had watched each other's paths unfold over decades.

Oh made the remarks Saturday at the funeral home of the late Choi Bool-am, born Choi Young-han, at Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

A steady stream of mourners has continued for a second day to pay tribute to Choi, widely known as "the nation's father," who died Thursday. Colleagues from the entertainment world, broadcasting veterans, and figures from politics, business and sports all came to stand before the portrait of the man they had known.

From the next generation of Yangchon-ri to on-screen sons

Saturday brought a procession of actors who had worked alongside Choi on MBC's long-running rural drama series "Jeonwon Ilgi" (1980–2002). Kim Ji-young, who played Bokgil, and Nam Sung-jin, who played Yeongnam, came together to pay their respects, remembering Choi as both a father figure and a mentor. The two, who played a couple in the series, are well known for having become a real-life married couple.

"He was someone so precious and dear to us, and it breaks my heart that we can never see him again," Kim said. "I will pray that he rests in peace." Nam described Choi as "a towering mountain of a person" and "a teacher who taught us so much beyond just the life of an actor." Nam added, "I hope people remember him as a great elder who set an example for everyone, shared his warmth and looked after those around him with such affection."

Song Il-guk, who had a minor role in "Jeonwon Ilgi" during his days as an MBC talent, also visited the funeral home. An ambassador for ChildFund Korea — the organization where Choi had long served as national patron — Song said he would carry on Choi's spirit of giving. "For more than 40 years, our teacher stood by children in need," Song said. "He said that an actor's dignity is completed through the way one lives, and he showed us that through his own actions. I will do my best to carry on his warm heart and spirit of sharing."

Song Seung-heon, who played Choi's son in the MBC drama series "You and I" (1997–1998), also came to pay his respects. For Song, who was still in the early stages of serious dramatic acting at the time, Choi had been an overwhelming presence. "He was like the sky to me when I was still so lacking," Song said. "He told me to treat him just like a real father." Song added that Choi's warmth and ease had stayed with him, and said the works and laughter Choi left behind would live on as cherished memories in the hearts of the public and in Song's own.

Jeong Han-yong, who played father-and-son roles with Choi in the drama series "Gogae Sukin Namja" (1991) and "Yeongung Sidae" (2004–2005), also visited. "People always said we looked just right as father and son, so we stayed close off screen too," Jeong said. "I can still picture him so clearly — I still can't believe he's gone."

The Korean National Police Agency expressed condolences Friday over the death of actor Choi Bool-am. [Provided by the Korean National Police Agency]

A bond that began on the theater stage 65 years ago

Those who had shared 65 years of friendship with Choi also came to see him off. Oh Ji-myung, who had nurtured his dream of acting alongside Choi on the theater stage, was joined by fellow actor Lee Jeong-seop.

Lee recalled first seeing Choi perform in the play "The Pain of a Shell Cracking" when Lee was in the first year of high school. "He was the very symbol and embodiment of what an actor should be — it is such a loss," Lee said, eyes filling with tears. "I thought he would pull through."

Director Lee Jang-ho, who worked with Choi on the films "Rain That Fell on Friday" (1974) and "A Fine Windy Day" (1980), also came to pay tribute. Lee recalled frequenting Eunseong, a bar in Myeong-dong run by Choi's mother. "I thought he would live to a hundred, but in the end he has gone to God's side," Lee said. "Because he gave everything he had, he will remain in the hearts of the people as an actor they can never forget."

Singer Kim Heung-guk remembered Choi's smile and warmth. "Every time I saw him in the dressing room or at events, he was so kind and gentle," Kim said. "As the great stars of Korea's entertainment world leave us one by one like this, I wonder who will be left to carry it on." Actors Jeong Jun-ho, Kim Mi-suk, Kim Chang-suk, Jeong Yeong-suk, Kim Dong-hyun and Lee Dong-jun also visited the funeral home to pay their respects.

'The one who enjoyed soju the most': remembering a down-to-earth Choi Bool-am

Figures from politics, business and sports continued to pay their respects. Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, a member of the funeral committee, remembered Choi as someone generous and warm in both public and private settings. Recalling shared drinks, Lee described Choi as "the person who enjoyed soju the most."

Lee said Choi had made a habit of deliberately wearing plain, worn clothes when going out in public, out of a belief that he should not make ordinary people feel uncomfortable. "He lived by the idea that he should not be dressed up and gleaming," Lee said, and went on to say, "Even in the portrait photo, that face with its warm smile is there — even after passing, Choi Bool-am is still Choi Bool-am."

Choi Bool-am. [Provided by ChildFund Korea]

Kim Jong-in, a former People Power Party emergency committee chairman who attended the same middle school in Seoul as Choi, remembered the late actor as a gentle and deeply affectionate friend. People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Young-se recalled seeking Choi's advice when first entering politics, while fellow PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won spoke of a bond formed through shared work with ChildFund Korea.

Rebuilding Korea Party leader Shin Jang-sik remembered Choi as the detective chief of "Susabanjang," the village chairman of Yangchon-ri, and the nation's father who presided over "Hansik." Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung, Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-keun, Constitutional Council Chairman Jeong Dae-cheol, former lawmaker Hong Moon-jong and former baseball player Park Chan-ho also visited the funeral home.

Kim Hye-su stays until midnight on first day; Im Hyung-joo to sing 'Ave Maria' at funeral Mass

Since the funeral home opened, colleagues from across generations as well as figures from politics and business have come to pay their final respects.

Pop-opera tenor Im Hyung-joo visited the funeral home for the second consecutive day Saturday, sharing memories of Choi as family. Im called Choi an uncle by marriage and said, "Personally, he was someone incredibly precious to me."

Actor Kim Hye-su and broadcaster Ahn Hyun-mo stayed at the funeral home until midnight Friday. Kim has long regarded Choi and Kim Min-ja as parental figures, a bond that began when Kim appeared alongside Kim Min-ja as a mother-daughter pair in the KBS drama series "Samogok" (1987).

Im will perform the tribute "Ave Maria" at the funeral Mass to be held Monday at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Presided over by Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong, the Mass will see Im send Choi on his final journey at the request of the family and Kim Min-ja. "I will try my best not to cry," Im said, recalling that Choi had asked those around him to smile and say goodbye as if they would meet again.

Choi made his debut in the play "Hamlet" in 1959 and spent 67 years moving between the stage, television and film. He is remembered by the public as Detective Chief Park Yeong-han in MBC's "Susabanjang" and as Chairman Kim in "Jeonwon Ilgi," and from 2011 hosted KBS 1TV's "Hansik" for 14 years, traveling the country to meet people and discover local food.

The funeral procession departs at 7:40 a.m. Monday, with the funeral Mass presided over by Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong beginning at 9 a.m. at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The funeral is being held under the auspices of ChildFund Korea. The cortege will pass through ChildFund Korea's offices at 10:40 a.m. before proceeding to Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

shee@heraldcorp.com