Funeral Mass held at Yeouido Cathedral after private procession
Kim Min-ja, Kim Hye-soo, Yoo In-chon among mourners in tears
ChildFund Korea chair Hwang Young-ki: 'Thank you for everything'
"The thought that we can no longer see your warm smile and gentle face fills us with sorrow."
Choi Bool-am (born Choi Young-han), the actor beloved across generations as "the nation's father," received his final Mass on All Souls' Day — the day the Catholic Church sets aside each year to pray for all the faithful departed. Choi had spent more than half a century as a fixture of Korean television.
Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong presided over the funeral Mass at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Monday, saying he felt anew that Choi "was truly never alone — he was always with so many people." The cardinal called it deeply meaningful that the Mass fell on All Souls' Day. Tracing the arc of Choi's career — from Detective Park in the drama series "Soosamban-jang" to Chairman Kim in "Jeonwon Ilgi" and a long run as host of "Hansaragin-ui Bapsang" — the cardinal honored Choi as both the nation's father and the nation's actor, and recalled him as a friend who brought laughter and joy to those on the margins of society.
The morning air was cold as the nation's father made his final journey. A private funeral procession was held at 7:40 a.m. at the funeral home of Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Choi's grandson carried the portrait as the hearse followed. Kim Min-ja, who had followed the ambulance when Choi was taken to the hospital on Friday, pressed a handkerchief to her mouth and wiped away tears throughout the procession. Actor Kim Hye-soo, dressed in black mourning clothes, stood by Kim Min-ja's side from the first day of the wake to the last — a bond forged through a drama series 39 years ago that Kim Hye-soo has since carried as a daughter's love. Broadcaster Kim Gyeong-ran bowed her head and quietly wiped her tears, while actors Jeong Jun-ho and Song Il-guk and broadcaster Ahn Hyeon-mo followed the procession in silence. Actor Shin Hyun-joon remained alone after the hearse and mourners' buses had departed, bowing deeply until they were out of sight.
The Mass opened with prayers for "Brother Choi Bool-am Francisco, who rests in the arms of the Lord." Culture Minister Choi Hwe-young and former minister Yoo In-chon, actor Kang Seok-woo and singer Andy were among those in attendance. Kim Hye-soo, Shin Hyun-joon, Jeong Jun-ho and Song Il-guk, who had all been present at the morning procession, accompanied the cortege to the cathedral as well. Yoo, who played Choi's son Yong-sik in "Jeonwon Ilgi," could not hold back tears. The Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit, posthumously awarded by the government, had earlier been presented to the family by Culture Minister Choi at the wake.
Over three days of the wake, those whose lives had touched Choi's came to pay their respects. Actor Lee Gye-in, who said he had lived within a block of Choi in Yeouido for nearly 40 years, said he still could not believe it — adding that he had probably drunk more with Choi than anyone else. Im Ho, a fellow cast member from "Jeonwon Ilgi," remembered Choi as an elder, a teacher and a father figure. Asan Foundation Chairman Chung Mong-joon recalled Choi as a high school sunbae and someone who felt like a friend to late Honorary Chairman Chung Ju-yung. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon honored Choi as "the face of Seoul," marking 28 years of service as the city's honorary ambassador.
The homily turned to Choi's faith. According to Cardinal Yeom, Choi had for years driven his wife to the cathedral courtyard every Saturday morning, joking that he was "already half Catholic." The husband who had always turned back at the church door received baptism from Cardinal Yeom on Oct. 31, 2018, and renewed his marriage vows with his wife the same day. Kim Hye-soo was present for that occasion as well. Choi expressed deep gratitude, saying the baptism had given him a new life. The cardinal recalled that, in the lead-up to his baptism, Choi had told him: "As I've grown older, I've come to realize that an actor who receives the love of the people must walk the path of a seeker."
Cardinal Yeom also shared Choi's resolve to be mindful of every word and action. Until just days before receiving the Anointing of the Sick, Choi had still had the energy to chat with nurses in his hospital room and sing for them — but his condition deteriorated sharply afterward. The cardinal visited the hospital room on Oct. 20 to administer the sacrament. The homily closed with a prayer that Choi might rest in eternal peace in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Near the end of the Mass, pop-opera tenor Lim Hyung-joo — who called Choi his uncle by marriage — performed "Ave Maria," the same piece Lim had sung before Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit to Mongolia in 2023. The day after Choi's death, Lim wrote on social media: "I did not know that the greeting from my visit a few months ago would become our final farewell." During the performance, Lim pressed a hand to his chest and fought back tears repeatedly.
Hwang Young-ki, chair of ChildFund Korea and head of the funeral committee, recalled his last visit to Choi's bedside in his farewell address. "I told him we would take care of everything to the end, and he nodded. It was a brief exchange, but it carried a deep and final trust," Hwang said. Hwang made no effort to conceal his grief at having to say goodbye to a great elder who had spent a lifetime standing by children.
The farewell address retraced the path of giving that had defined Choi's life. Choi had traveled to Korean communities in the United States and Europe to encourage donations, and had extended a hand to children in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. From 2012, Choi taught theater and musical performance to young inmates at a juvenile detention center, helping open a path back into society, and lent support to the founding of Zero Camp, a nonprofit for at-risk youth.
Hwang reflected on Choi's lifelong conviction that "it is the role of adults to give children hope," and pledged: "We will carry on your legacy and always stand by children, just as you did." Hwang also offered a final word of thanks directly to Choi: "Honorary Chairman of the Supporters' Association, thank you so very much for everything."
After the Mass, family members and colleagues lined up in front of the cathedral to see off the portrait and the casket. True to the words Choi had once sent Kim Hye-soo in a text message — "Autumn is the season of longing, the season when grapes ripen" — Choi departed in the deep of late autumn, leaving behind a longing that will linger. The funeral procession passed by the ChildFund Korea headquarters before heading to Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju.
shee@heraldcorp.com
