[Edaily Reporter Gim Ga Yeong ] “Father of the Nation, rest in peace.”

The late actor Choi Bul-am, beloved as the “Father of the Nation,” has found eternal rest. Countless citizens bid a tearful farewell to the late actor, who was respected not only as a “great actor” but also as a “great elder.”

On the morning of the 2nd, a funeral Mass for the late actor, presided over by Cardinal Yeom Su-jeong at Yeouido Cathedral in Seoul, was held in the presence of his bereaved family, fellow actors, parishioners, and members of the public. Cardinal Yeom paid tribute, saying, “The spirit of sacrifice and service that the late actor cherished until the very end will become a legacy of hope that allows us to live without losing hope in this harsh and rough world,” adding, “I hope that the spirit of Brother Francis (the late actor’s baptismal name) will spread further through more people.”

Hwang Young-ki, president of Green Umbrella, expressed his grief in his eulogy, saying, “It breaks my heart and I still cannot believe that I will no longer be able to hear his warm voice or see his kind smile—he who used to say, ‘It is the role of adults to give children hope.’” Popera singer Im Hyung-joo, who called the deceased “Uncle,” conveyed his deep affection by singing the memorial song “Ave Maria.”

After the funeral Mass concluded, Kim Hye-soo, Shin Hyun-joon, Song Il-gook, and others clung to the hearse and wept. Yoo In-chun, who played his son in the drama *Country Diary*, also mourned for a long time beside the hearse. The funeral procession then proceeded to the Green Umbrella headquarters, where the deceased had served as National Chairman for over 40 years. This was in accordance with the deceased’s wish to say his final goodbyes at this very place, where he had spent his life giving back to children. After being seen off by staff members, the deceased was laid to rest at Donghwa Memorial Park in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

The deceased had been experiencing mobility difficulties since undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in March of last year and passed away on the 29th of last month. Condolences poured in from all walks of life at the funeral hall set up at Seoul Asan Hospital, including actresses Kim Hye-ja, Go Doo-shim, Yoon Yeo-jeong, and Na Moon-hee, as well as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young; Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon; Democratic Party of Korea Leader Kim Min-seok; former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in; Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun; Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-geun; and Asan Social Welfare Foundation Chairman Chung Mong-joon. The government posthumously awarded the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit to the late actress in recognition of her contributions to touching the hearts of the public through works such as “Chief of Investigation” and “Diary of a Family.”