Actor Kim Yong-gun [Newsis]
Actor Kim Yong-gun [Newsis]

Actor Kim Yong-gun, who played the eldest son to the late Choi Bool-am's father figure in the MBC drama series "Jeonwon Ilgi" (1980–2002), expressed deep regret over being unable to visit the funeral home for Choi, who died Thursday.

"Next month there is a wedding in the family, and after hearing the sad news, while we were in the middle of preparations, I received calls from several people saying it would be better not to attend a funeral," Kim told Yonhap by phone. "I don't necessarily believe such things, but it weighed on my heart. It is hard to put into words how I feel about not being able to see him off."

"When I heard the unexpected sad news, I should have rushed over immediately, but I could not — and every day since has weighed on my heart," Kim said. "It was no ordinary person. We spent so many years together as father and son, as sunbae and junior. I should have been there."

Kim's son, actor Ha Jung-woo, is set to marry fellow actor Cha Jeong-won on Dec. 13. Those around Kim discouraged the visit to the funeral home, citing a folk belief that attending a funeral before one's own or a family member's wedding brings bad luck.

"Even though I could not go in person, I prayed with all my heart," Kim said. "Just last night I prayed: 'Please go somewhere comfortable and rest well. I don't know when it will be, but I will follow you someday — please rest in peace, hyungnim.'"

"Twenty-two years is a long time, but he was truly like an older brother, a sunbae, and a father to me," Kim said. "He was someone truly special to me."

Kim also recalled visiting Choi in the hospital.

"He told me, 'I'm in rehabilitation now, so let's meet soon — let's get a few people together and have a glass of soju,'" Kim said. "I told him, 'Of course, hyungnim — you have to get back on your feet.' But at some point I could no longer reach him. I thought he must be having a very hard time, and I just waited, hoping for good news."

Choi Bool-am, widely celebrated as the nation's archetypal father figure, died Thursday night at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, at the age of 87, while receiving inpatient treatment.

After undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in March last year, Choi had difficulty moving around and stepped down from the KBS 1TV current affairs and culture program "Hansik Ilgi." Choi had since been working on rehabilitation, but the condition deteriorated sharply in recent weeks.

The funeral is being held under the auspices of ChildFund Korea. A funeral committee has been formed with ChildFund Korea Chairman Hwang Young-ki serving as chair, and includes former Prime Ministers Lee Su-seong and Lee Nak-yeon, former lawmaker Hong Moon-jong, Father Kim Seong-eun, Han Il-su of the National Assembly Legislative Policy Research Institute, and Yang Ok-gyeong as representative director.

'Jeonwon Ilgi' cast mourns

[Yonhap]
[Yonhap]

Tributes continued to pour in as fellow actors made their way to the funeral home.

Actors Kim Hye-ja, Yoo In-chon, Ko Doo-shim and Im Ho were among those who paid their respects, joined by cast members from "Jeonwon Ilgi." Kim Ji-young and Nam Seong-jin, who played the characters Bokgil and Yeongnam respectively alongside Choi in the series, also attended. The two, who were a romantic couple in the drama, married in real life as well.

"The late Choi was someone so precious and dear to us — it is heartbreaking to know we can never see him again," Kim Ji-young said. Nam Seong-jin said: "I hope people will remember him as a great elder who was a role model for everyone, who always shared warmth and looked after everyone with affection."

Song Il-gook, who appeared in a minor role in "Jeonwon Ilgi" during the MBC talent days, also paid tribute. "For more than 40 years, the teacher stood by children in need and said that an actor's dignity is completed through the way one lives," Song said. "He showed us that through his own actions. I will work hard to carry on the teacher's warm heart and spirit of giving."


yul@heraldcorp.com