[Edaily Reporter Gim Ga Yeong ] “He was both a father and a mentor to me.” (Actress Kim Ji-young)

"Beyond his life as an actor, he was like a mentor who taught us so much." (Actor Nam Seong-jin)

At Seoul Asan Hospital, where the wake for the late actor Choi Bul-am—who passed away on the 29th of last month—was held, a steady stream of mourners continued for the third consecutive day to pay their respects to the “Father of the Nation.” People with ties to the late actor—from fellow actors to figures in politics and business—came to honor him.

Kim Ji-young and Nam Seong-jin co-starred with the late actor in *Country Diary*, playing the roles of Bok-gil and Yeong-nam. The two, who were lovers in the drama, later married in real life, sparking widespread attention. The actors expressed their grief, saying, “We learned so much from him.”

Oh Ji-myeong, who had been a close friend of the deceased for over 60 years, said, “We used to joke, ‘Will you die first, or will I?’ But he’s the one who left first. I’m sorry. I’m the one who lived a little longer,” leaving the audience choked up. Kim Jong-in, former chairman of the People Power Party’s Emergency Response Committee, who had been the deceased’s deskmate in middle school, recalled him after paying his respects, saying, “He had a gentle and affectionate personality.”

Lim Hyung-joo, who visited the funeral home two days in a row, said, “He once asked me to say my final goodbye with a smile, as if we would meet again, so I’m trying to send him off with a smile,” as he struggled to hold back his tears. Lim Hyung-joo was known to be so close to the deceased that he referred to him as “uncle-in-law.”

In addition, a steady stream of mourners from all walks of life continued to pay their respects, including junior actors who had worked with the deceased—such as Kim Mi-sook, Kim Chang-sook, Jung Joon-ho, Song Il-gook, Lee Gye-in, Kim Hye-soo, and Song Seung-heon—as well as former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-geun, Asan Social Welfare Foundation Chairman Chung Mong-joon, and baseball player Park Chan-ho.

The late actor, who began his acting career in 1959 with the play *Hamlet*, made his television debut in 1967 and went on to share stories of life and offer comfort across a wide range of mediums, including theater, TV dramas, films, and educational programs. In *Chief of Detectives*, he portrayed Detective Park Young-han, depicting a character who was both principled and compassionate, while in *Diary of a Country Family*, he played Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri—the village elder—offering comfort and sharing wisdom. Although he portrayed a wide variety of characters over the years, the image of the late actor that remains in the public’s heart is that of a “warm-hearted elder.” He was like a father or grandfather to many, and a neighborhood elder whom people always wanted to visit and talk to.

After undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in March of last year, the late actor’s mobility became limited, leading him to step down from the KBS1 current affairs and cultural program *The Korean Table*. Although he had been working hard on his rehabilitation since then, it was reported that his health had recently deteriorated rapidly.

The funeral was conducted as a “Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation Funeral.” A funeral committee was formed, chaired by Hwang Young-ki, president of the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation, and including former Prime Ministers Lee Soo-sung and Lee Nak-yeon, former lawmaker Hong Moon-jong, Father Kim Seong-eun, Han Il-su, secretary-general of the National Assembly Legislative Policy Research Association, and CEO Yang Ok-kyung.

Following the departure of the funeral procession on the morning of the 2nd, a funeral Mass presided over by Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong will be held at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, after which the procession will proceed to the Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation. The burial site is Donghwa Memorial Park.