Veteran actor Choi Bool-am, widely known in South Korea as the “Nation’s Father,” has passed away at the age of 87.
According to broadcasting industry reports, Choi died at around 10 p.m. on October 29 while receiving treatment at a hospital in Seoul’s Gangseo District.
Choi had stepped away from broadcasting after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc last year, which left him with difficulty moving. He had been focusing on rehabilitation, but his health reportedly deteriorated more recently.
Born in Incheon, Choi began his acting career in 1959 with a production of Hamlet by the Experimental Theatre Company. He joined the National Theater of Korea in 1965 before beginning his television career in 1967 after being selected as an actor for Seoul Central Broadcasting, now known as KBS.
Choi went on to become one of South Korea’s most recognizable television actors through long-running dramas including Chief Inspector and Country Diaries.
He played detective Park Young-han in Chief Inspector, which aired for 18 years, earning affection from viewers for portraying a principled and compassionate police officer.
Choi later starred as village leader Kim in Country Diaries, appearing opposite actress Kim Hye-ja as a married couple throughout the drama’s 22-year run. The role helped establish his enduring image as the “Nation’s Father.”
Outside of acting, Choi also served as a proportional-representation member of South Korea’s 14th National Assembly after entering politics in 1992.
His contributions to acting and public service were recognized with the Order of Civil Merit, Moran Medal in 1998 and the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2014.
His funeral altar is expected to be set up at Seoul Asan Medical Center.
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