[Edaily Reporter Gim Ga Yeong ] It has belatedly come to light that the late Choi Bul-am (real name Choi Young-han) personally requested the production of a documentary reflecting on his life while battling his illness.

On the 30th, MBC aired a special documentary in memory of the late actor titled “Paha, This Is Choi Bul-am.” The program, originally broadcast last May, was rebroadcast as a tribute to the late actor.
The production team explained in a subtitle, “In 2025, while battling illness, actor Choi Bul-am personally called the production team to ask them to create a program reflecting on his life,” adding, “In honor of his request, it was broadcast this past May while he was still alive.”
“Paha, This Is Choi Bul-am” is a radio-style documentary program that revisits actor Choi Bul-am’s life and acting career through music. The broadcast not only covered the late actor’s career—which began in 1959 with theater—but also reflected on his life through stories shared by actors with whom he had close ties, including Baek Il-seop, Park Geun-hyung, Go Doo-shim, Chae Si-ra, Yoo Jin, Im Ho, Lee Gye-in, and Lee Hwi-hyang.
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 had undergone surgery for a herniated disc in March of last year 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, 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, has also been paying their respects.
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.