[Edaily Reporter Gim Ga Yeong ] Actor Choi Soo-jong paid tribute to the late Choi Bul-am.

On the 30th, Choi Soo-jong posted a tribute on his social media, writing, “You were a mentor who, throughout your life, went beyond the title of ‘actor’ to deeply revere and cherish the hard work and daily lives of the people of South Korea. I was truly happy and grateful to have been able to laugh and cry together under the great shadow of you, my mentor.”
He continued, “I pray that God’s comfort and peace be with you,” and declared his love three times.
Choi Soo-jong joined KBS1’s *The Korean Table* as its new host in 2025 after the late Choi Bul-am was unable to continue the program following surgery for a herniated disc, and he has been leading the show ever since. “Koreans’ Table” is a program that presents the hidden stories, history, and food culture of representative regional dishes as a weekly “foodumentary” through beautiful visuals and in-depth reporting. Previously, the late Choi Bul-am hosted the program for 14 years starting in 2011, traveling across the country to encounter meals prepared with great care.
The late Choi Bul-am passed away around 10 p.m. on the 29th while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. It is reported that although he underwent surgery for a herniated disc last March and had been undergoing rehabilitation, his health recently deteriorated, leading to his passing.
The late Choi Bul-am made his debut in 1959 in the play “Hamlet” and went on to win the hearts of the public through MBC productions such as “Chief of Detectives,” “You and Me,” and “Country Diary.”
The wake for the late actor has been set up at the Seoul Asan Hospital Funeral Home and will be open to mourners starting at 10:00 a.m. today. The funeral will be conducted by the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation.