Actor Choi Bool-am, known as the "nation's father" [Yonhap]
Actor Choi Bool-am, known as the "nation's father" [Yonhap]

Choi Bool-am (born Choi Young-han), the actor beloved as the "eternal detective chief" and "nation's father," was laid to rest Monday.

Family members and fellow actors held a private departure ceremony at 7:40 a.m. at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in Seoul before proceeding to Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu.

A funeral Mass presided over by Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong was held at the cathedral at 9 a.m. to pray for the eternal repose of the late actor, according to Yonhap.

Choi received Catholic baptism in October 2018 in a ceremony officiated by Cardinal Yeom, and received the Anointing of the Sick from the cardinal just days before passing away Thursday.

Pop-opera tenor Lim Hyung-joo performed "Ave Maria" at the Mass to bid farewell to Choi. Lim shared a close bond with Choi and wife Kim Min-ja, addressing Choi as "uncle" in their personal relationship.

After the Mass, the funeral procession made its way at 10:40 a.m. to the ChildFund Korea headquarters in Mugyo-dong, Jung-gu.

Choi first became involved with the foundation in 1981 when he began sponsoring children, and for 45 years traveled to child welfare sites at home and abroad to support children in need and promote the value of sharing.

Choi had reportedly expressed to those around him a wish for the funeral procession to visit the foundation after his passing.

Staff members lined up to receive Choi's portrait, and a staff representative read a eulogy honoring his contributions. Funeral committee members then laid flowers at a memorial space set up on the first floor of the foundation building, and the portrait was carried through the interior.

After the final farewell, the procession departed for Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju, the burial site.

Choi Bool-am poses for a commemorative photo with the cast of "Countryside Diary" [Yonhap]
Choi Bool-am poses for a commemorative photo with the cast of "Countryside Diary" [Yonhap]

Choi made his debut in 1959 performing in "Hamlet" with the experimental theater troupe Silheom Geukhoei, and began his career in earnest in 1965 as a member of the National Theater Company of Korea.

After moving into television drama through KBS, Choi went on to appear in more than 130 drama series, about 90 films and some 50 stage productions — primarily through MBC — earning the title of "national actor."

Choi won the hearts of audiences nationwide through a string of warm, down-to-earth roles: Detective Chief Park Young-han in MBC's "Susa Banjang" (1971–1984, 1985–1989), a pioneering Korean crime drama that ran for 18 years; Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in MBC's "Jeonwon Ilgi" (1980–2002), the longest-running domestic drama series at 22 years; and Captain Park in MBC's "Geuidae Geurigo Na" (1997–1998), whose finale drew a 66.9 percent viewership rating.

On the big screen, Choi appeared in films including "Manjong" (1970), "Pagye" (1974), "Saram-ui Adeul" (1980), "Baram Buleo Joeun Nal" (1980) and "Gippeun Uri Jeolmeun Nal" (1987), lending his talent to works by leading directors of the era such as Shin Sang-ok, Kim Ki-young, Yoo Hyun-mok, Lee Jang-ho and Bae Chang-ho.

Choi's approachable image made him a perennial top finisher in popularity polls throughout the 1970s to 1990s. Drawing on that public profile, Choi briefly entered politics, serving as a proportional-representation member of the 14th National Assembly (1992–1996) for the Unification National Party.

Beyond acting, Choi remained a fixture in viewers' lives for years as host of public-affairs and cultural programs, including a civic-values campaign program (1999–2008) and "Hansik Gidae" (2011–2025), a long-running show exploring Korean food culture.

Choi received acting awards from the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Grand Bell Awards, as well as the Mokryeongjang Order of Civil Merit (1998) and the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit (2014). Recognized for elevating the image of the police through "Susa Banjang," Choi was first appointed an honorary police officer in 1972 and in 2024 became the first civilian named honorary director general of the National Investigation Headquarters, equivalent to the rank of senior superintendent general.

Choi also devoted himself to social causes on behalf of children and youth — appearing in special live broadcasts to find missing children and aid those with rare and incurable diseases, and serving as national fundraising chair for ChildFund Korea and chairman of the nonprofit Zero Camp.

Choi underwent back surgery in March last year and had difficulty moving afterward. Despite rehabilitation efforts, his health deteriorated sharply and Choi passed away Thursday. In recognition of his contributions to the growth of Korean television drama, the government posthumously awarded him the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit on Friday, the day after his death.

Over three days, the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center drew mourners from the arts, politics and business communities.

Kim Hye-ja, who played Choi's on-screen wife for 22 years in "Jeonwon Ilgi," led a large contingent of the drama's cast in paying their respects, joined by Yoo In-chon, Ko Doo-shim, the couple Kim Ji-young and Nam Sung-jin, Im Ho, Kim Young-ok and Lee Gye-in.

Fellow actors Youn Yuh-jung, Na Moon-hee, Kang Boo-ja, Oh Ji-myung, Sunwoo Yong-nyeo, Park Sang-won, Cha In-pyo and Song Seung-heon also visited to pay their respects.

Among those who came to mourn were Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young, Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok, People Power Party lawmakers Kwon Young-se and Na Kyung-won, Rebuilding Korea Party leader Shin Jang-sik, Hyundai Motor Company Chairman Euisun Chung and former baseball player Park Chan-ho.

Kim Hye-soo, who began calling Choi "father" after playing Choi's on-screen daughter in the 1987 drama series "Samogok," visited the funeral hall all three days, guiding mourners and staying close by the family's side.


husn7@heraldcorp.com