[Edaily Reporter Gim Ga Yeong ] Following the passing of “National Actor” Choi Bul-am, KBS will air two special documentary episodes in his memory.

On the 30th, KBS announced, “As special memorial programs to remember actor Choi Bul-am, we have prepared ‘A Warm-Hearted Adult, Choi Bul-am—You Were the Path’ and ‘Choi Bul-am, Keeper of the Korean Table: We Remember You’ as special memorial programs to honor actor Choi Bul-am’s memory,” adding, “The two programs look back on the life and acting career of Choi Bul-am, who brought laughter and comfort to viewers for many years, as well as his 14-year legacy of safeguarding ‘The Korean Table.’”
The late actor, who began his career as a stage actor in 1959, was selected as part of the 6th special recruitment class of Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS) in 1967 and made his television drama debut playing the elderly Kim Jong-seo in the KBS drama *Prince Suyang*. Over the course of his 67-year acting career, he shuttled between dramas, films, and the theater, leading an era of Korean broadcasting and popular culture. In particular, he maintained a long-standing relationship with KBS, spanning from his debut as an actor to hosting current affairs and cultural programs and providing narration. He hosted “Good Country Movement Headquarters” from 1999 to 2008 and connected with viewers for 14 years, from 2011 to 2025, as the host of “Koreans’ Table.”
The special documentary airing today, “A Warm-Hearted Elder, Choi Bul-am—You Were the Path,” captures the late actor as he set out one spring day two years ago to film “The Korean Table.” The production team accompanied the late Choi Bul-am from the moment he left for the shoot until he arrived on set, showcasing the candid conversations and reflections on life he shared. The program will reveal the heart of the man behind the roles that drew the people of South Korea to their TV screens, as well as the life journey he walked as an actor.
The program offers a glimpse into the late actor’s life through his warm welcome of others, his attitude of cherishing even a single bite of food, and his passion for never ceasing to learn, even after a long career in acting.
“Choi Bul-am, the Keeper of the Table: We Remember You,” airing Sunday, November 1, at 8:10 p.m., retraces the late actor’s footsteps as he visited dining tables across the country with unwavering dedication for 14 years. He made his way to the filming location every week to keep his promise to the viewers of “The Korean Table.” From the early morning commute to the set to the moment he sat down before a lovingly prepared meal, the program reflects on his sense of responsibility and dedication—hidden behind his familiar voice and unassuming smile—through 14 years of “Koreans’ Dining Table” archives.
What the late Choi Bul-am sought out was not merely delicious food. The meals he encountered embodied the hard work that went into preparing each meal, the culinary skills passed down from his mother, and the stories of family and neighbors who had weathered difficult times together. By listening closely to the stories of people he met across the country, he conveyed to viewers the values embedded in ordinary lives and the significance of our dining tables.
Choi Soo-jong, who has taken over as the new host of “The Korean Table” following the late Choi Bul-am, provided the narration for the program. Through narration and interviews, he plans to calmly reflect on the path his senior, the late Choi Bul-am, walked and convey the significance of the dining table that will be carried forward.
The late Choi Bul-am passed away around 10 p.m. on the 29th while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He had undergone surgery for a herniated disc last March and was undergoing rehabilitation, but it is reported that his health recently deteriorated, leading to his passing.
Upon hearing the news of the passing of the late actor—who was known as the “National Actor” and “National Father”—President Lee Jae-myung, along with Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Kim Min-seok, People Power Party Spokesperson Cho Yong-sul, and National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik, expressed their condolences. A steady stream of mourners has also been paying their respects, including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, actress Na Moon-hee, and hanbok designer Park Sul-nyeo.
The wake for the late actor has been set up at the Seoul Asan Hospital Funeral Home in Songpa-gu. The funeral will be conducted by the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation, and the funeral procession is scheduled for 7:40 a.m. on the 2nd of next month.