[Diary Point = Reporter Park Bo-young] Actor Choi Bool-am, who spent decades connecting with viewers through the dramas 'Detective Team' and 'Country Diary,' passed away on the night of October 29. He was 87. The veteran actor had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, before his condition worsened and he died.
A memorial altar has been set up at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The funeral will be organized by ChildFund Korea, with ChildFund Chairman Hwang Young-ki serving as the head of the funeral committee.
Burial on November 2, Followed by Funeral Mass at Yeouido Catholic Church
The funeral schedule includes the encoffining on November 1, followed by the burial ceremony at 7:40 a.m. on November 2. After the burial, a funeral mass will be held at 9 a.m. at Yeouido Catholic Church, and a final farewell will take place at 10:40 a.m. at the ChildFund Korea headquarters in Mugyo-dong, Seoul. He will be laid to rest at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park.
Choi Bool-am was appointed national honorary chairman of ChildFund Korea's supporters in 1985 and continued his involvement in child welfare activities for 41 years. Beyond his legacy as a beloved actor, he was also remembered as someone devoted to helping children and teenagers, which adds special meaning to this funeral.
Detective Park of 'Detective Team' and Chairman Kim of 'Country Diary'
Choi Bool-am made his stage debut in 1959 with the play 'Hamlet.' He rose to prominence in 1967 playing the older Kim Jong-seo in the drama 'King Suyang,' and went on to work across theater, film, and television for 67 years.
His signature roles came in MBC's 'Detective Team' and 'Country Diary.' In 'Detective Team,' he played Detective Park Young-han, portraying an upright police officer for about 18 years. In 'Country Diary,' he played Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri, embodying a father figure who led both his family and his village. The two series cemented Choi's status as one of Korea's most beloved actors, respectively through the image of a just lawman and a family patriarch.
He also left his mark across eras and genres in works such as 'The First Republic,' 'The Second Republic,' 'Eyes of Dawn,' 'Age of Heroes,' 'The Palace,' and 'Gourmet.' Starting in 2011, he hosted KBS 1TV's 'Korean Table' for 14 years, introducing food and people from across the country, and became a fixture in Korean households with his calm voice and hearty laughter.
The actor had scaled back his broadcasting activities while focusing on rehabilitation after back surgery in March of last year. His decades-long acting career and warm image as a host are expected to remain long in the memory of viewers — not only those who grew up with 'Detective Team' and 'Country Diary,' but also those who came to know him through family dramas and cultural programs.