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Choi Bool-am mourned by the actor who called him father

Yu In-chon joins mourners in Seoul as colleagues remember the television actor known in South Korea as the "nation's father."

Channel: YTN ·

South KoreaStory of October 31, 2026Trari Newsroom

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배우 최불암 향년 87세로 별세...조문객 발길 이어져 / YTN

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0:44Yu In-chon, Choi's television son, is among the first mourners at the Seoul funeral hall.
1:11The report describes Choi's withdrawal from broadcasting after spinal disc surgery and subsequent deterioration in health.
1:32Colleagues remember Choi's fatherly presence, warm voice and an unfulfilled promise to share a drink.
2:33Green Umbrella will organize the funeral, reflecting Choi's longstanding work supporting children and young people.
2:54The November 2 procession will include a funeral Mass before burial in Paju.
3:05An overview recalls Choi's stage debut, signature television dramas and food-documentary presenting.

Yu In-chon played Choi Bool-am's son on television, but the family connection continued beyond the screen. Among the first mourners to arrive at the actor's funeral hall in Seoul, Yu said he had always called Choi father and thought of him as family.

South Korea's YTN news channel reports that Choi, known for the dramas Chief Inspector and Country Diaries, has died aged 87. Reporter Lee Jun-yeop delivers the update from the funeral hall at Asan Medical Center, where visitors began paying their respects on Friday morning.

Yu, an actor and former culture minister, told reporters that receiving the news was heartbreaking. His recollection gives a personal dimension to the public nickname "nation's father," which the report connects with Choi's reassuring television presence, broad smile and distinctive laugh.

Tributes extend across acting, music and government. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young recalled visiting Choi in hospital in June and their unfulfilled promise to share a drink after his discharge. Actor Choi Soo-jong, who took over presenting Korean Cuisine and Dining, remembered the happiness of sharing laughter and tears under his predecessor's protective presence.

Classical crossover singer Lim Hyung-joo thanked Choi for being a father figure to so many people. Composer Yoon Il-sang remembered his warm voice, hearty laugh and affection for others.

The report says Choi had stepped away from broadcasting after spinal disc surgery last year and had been undergoing rehabilitation before his health deteriorated. It also traces a career beginning onstage in Hamlet and extending from television drama to programmes exploring everyday Korean lives and food traditions.

Green Umbrella, the children's charity whose national supporters' association Choi chaired, will organize the funeral. YTN reports that the November 2 procession will include a funeral Mass led by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung and a stop at the foundation before burial at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park in Paju.