Actor Kim Hye-soo attends the funeral mass for the late Choi Bool-am at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Monday. [Pool/Yonhap]
Actor Kim Hye-soo attends the funeral mass for the late Choi Bool-am at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on Monday. [Pool/Yonhap]

As the late Choi Bool-am was laid to rest, actor Shin Hyun-joon praised Kim Hye-soo — who stood vigil at the funeral home for all three days of the mourning period, calling herself the late actor's daughter — as "someone whose presence gives you real strength."

Shin posted a photo of the two of them together on Instagram on Monday, writing that Kim was "a proud colleague and someone whose presence gives you real strength."

"Her warmth and care for people run just as deep as her depth as an actor," Shin said of Kim. "She stands firmer than anyone in her own place, and she willingly offers her side to those in pain."

Shin added, "Having walked the same path for so long, I cannot express how grateful I am to have a colleague like her — Kim Hye-soo, a fine actor and a fine person."

"Kim Hye-soo, an actor beautiful even in heart," Shin wrote, and added, "Stay strong, Hye-soo."

The funeral mass for the late actor was held Monday morning at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

The mass, presided over by Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung, took place amid tears, with the bereaved family, fellow actors, parishioners and members of the public in attendance.

Kim could not hold back tears even after the mass ended. Kim embraced Kim Min-ja, the late actor's wife, and wept. Even after composing herself, Kim continued to stroke Kim Min-ja's back and shoulders, holding back grief.

Shin also bowed toward the hearse and shed tears.

Earlier, a private funeral send-off ceremony was held at the funeral home of Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, ahead of the mass.


yul@heraldcorp.com