[Edaily Starin JOO MEE_HEE Reporter] The story behind why actor Kim Yong-geon was unable to visit the wake of the late Choi Bul-am has come to light. It is reported that fellow actor Baek Il-seop advised Kim Yong-geon—who was debating whether to pay his respects ahead of his son Ha Jung-woo’s wedding—against visiting the wake.

According to entertainment industry sources on the 1st, Baek Il-seop visited Choi Bul-am’s funeral hall, set up the previous day at the Seoul Asan Hospital in Songpa-gu, to pay his respects to the deceased.
Baek Il-seop, who visited the wake leaning on a cane, met with reporters and explained why Kim Yong-geon was unable to attend.
Baek Il-seop stated, “Yong-geon should have come, but isn’t his son getting married next month?” adding, “I got a call, so I told him not to come.” He explained that he took into consideration the fact that visiting a funeral might be inappropriate given the family’s upcoming major celebration.
He added, “My mother also told me not to go to the funeral home, but since he’s my older brother Bul-am, I felt I had to go,” explaining why he had come to pay his respects in person.
Baek Il-seop also mentioned the possibility that Kim Yong-geon might quietly visit the funeral hall before the funeral procession. “Since the funeral is on Monday, I’m concerned about him, so he might just stop by quietly,” he said.
Kim Yong-geon and Choi Bul-am co-starred as father and son in the beloved drama *Country Diary*. Choi Bul-am played the role of Chairman Kim, while Kim Yong-geon played his eldest son, and the two acted together for many years. It is known that the two maintained a close friendship even off the set.
Actor Ha Jung-woo (real name Kim Seong-hoon), Kim Yong-geon’s son, is scheduled to marry actress Cha Jung-won on the 13th of next month.
Baek Il-seop could not hide his sadness as he recalled memories of the late actor that day.
“The times I shared a drink with Choi Bul-am, Kim Yong-geon, and Lee Gye-in are what I remember most,” he recalled. “Actors don’t get to make many friends—just a few close seniors and juniors. But when I drank with Bul-am hyung, looking into his eyes always put me at ease.”
He continued, “I never expected him to leave us so soon. He should have lived past 90—it’s truly heartbreaking,” expressing his condolences.
Choi Bul-am began his acting career in 1959 with the play *Hamlet*. In 1967, he was selected as a specially recruited talent by KBS and appeared in the drama *Prince Suyang*, and in 1969, he expanded his career by joining MBC as a specially recruited talent.
He later gained widespread popularity through the MBC drama “Chief Investigator” and earned the nickname “Father of the Nation” for his role as Chairman Kim in the long-running rural drama “Diary of a Country Family.” Starting in 2011, he connected with viewers through the KBS 1TV educational program “The Korean Table.”
Choi Bul-am passed away at 10:30 p.m. on the 29th of last month while receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, due to deteriorating health. He was 87 years old.
The funeral for the late actor will be held over five days under the auspices of the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation. The wake is being held at the Seoul Asan Hospital Funeral Home, and the funeral procession will depart at 7:40 a.m. Following this, a funeral Mass will be held at Yeouido Cathedral in Seoul, presided over by Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong.