[Edaily Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] Junior actors continued to pay their respects to bid farewell to the late national treasure, actor Choi Bul-am.

Actors Cha In-pyo, Park Eun-soo, Kim Hye-soo, and Kang Seok-woo visited the memorial altar for the late Choi Bul-am, set up in Room 20 of the Seoul Asan Hospital Funeral Home in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 30th.

The late Choi Bul-am passed away around 10:00 p.m. on the 29th while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He was 87 years old.

Kim Hye-soo reportedly visited the wake quietly that morning. After staying for a long time, she left the wake around 4:09 p.m., wiping away tears.

Cha In-pyo, who played the late actor’s son in the drama *You and Me*, also visited the wake with a somber expression. He said, “I hope Mr. Choi has gone to a place free from pain and suffering.”

He continued, “For a long time, he served as a father figure to the entire nation through television dramas. From the late 1960s, when our country was facing hardships, until recently, he gave comfort and courage to the people. I am deeply grateful,” he said, his voice choking with emotion.

Cha In-pyo added, “I grew up watching *Chief of Detectives* and *Diary of a Country Family* as a child, and later, after becoming an actor, I had the privilege of playing the roles of father and son alongside him in *You and Me*.”

He continued, “He never treated even his much younger juniors as mere juniors; instead, he treated us as equals, respecting us as individuals,” and expressed his tribute, saying, “I am still grateful to this day for having had the opportunity to act alongside such a remarkable person.”

Park Eun-soo, who worked alongside him for a long time on *Country Diary*, described the deceased as “someone like an older brother” and mentioned that they had been in touch about two months ago. Park Eun-soo said, “There will never be another actor like him,” adding, “He was someone with so many qualities to emulate. It’s truly heartbreaking to have lost such a great actor.”

Kang Seok-woo expressed his sorrow, saying, “South Korea’s national actor has passed away,” and added, “It makes me feel sad to realize that the first generation of senior actors are all leaving us.” He continued, “I deeply regret not having treated him with more respect and care.”

As soon as the funeral hall was set up following the news of the passing of this warm-hearted senior, a true elder of our time, and the nation’s beloved actor, countless figures came to pay their respects. Amid the solemn atmosphere of remembrance, some YouTubers drew criticism for their behavior, such as chasing after the actors.

Born in Incheon in 1939, the late actor made his debut in 1959 with the play *Hamlet*. He served as a member of the National Theater Company of Korea in 1965 and entered the world of television in 1967 after being selected as a specially recruited talent by Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS).

The works that established him as a national actor were MBC’s “Chief of Investigation” and “Country Diary.” In “Chief of Investigation,” which began in 1971, he played Chief Park Young-han for 18 years, and in “Country Diary,” he portrayed Chairman Kim for 22 years, acting alongside Kim Hye-ja as his on-screen wife.

In recognition of his contributions as an actor, he received the Order of Cultural Merit (Silver Crown) in 2014. In 1992, at the urging of Chung Ju-yung, Honorary Chairman of the Hyundai Group, he entered politics and served as a member of the 14th National Assembly; he also devoted himself to social contribution activities for children and youth.

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.