[Edaily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the funeral hall of the late actor Choi Bul-am to pay his respects.

Chairman Kim visited the memorial hall set up at Seoul Asan Hospital in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 30th and recalled their past connection, saying, “While he was a great actor to the public, I had a special personal connection with him,” adding, “He was my opponent in the National Assembly election 30 years ago.”

Representative Kim and the late Choi both entered the National Assembly after competing against each other in the 15th general election in 1996. At the time, Choi Bul-am had entered the 14th National Assembly as a national-list representative for the United National Party—founded in 1992 by Chung Ju-yung, Honorary Chairman of the Hyundai Group—and then sought reelection in a local constituency as a New Korea Party candidate in 1996.

Recalling that time, Representative Kim said, “Throughout the entire election campaign and competition, he always treated me so warmly that I never once thought of him as a rival,” adding, “He continued to treat me warmly whenever we met afterward, so he remains in my memory as someone like a senior colleague.”

He said, “I feel a particularly deep sense of regret and gratitude,” adding, “Although he was relatively unknown, he did a great deal of work for young people. I will do my part to ensure his legacy continues and that his efforts bear even greater fruit.”

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. He was 87 years old.

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 wake for the deceased has been set up in Room 20 of the Seoul Asan Hospital Funeral Home, and the funeral will be conducted by the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation. The funeral procession will depart at 7:40 a.m. on the 2nd, and the burial will take place at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park.