Veteran South Korean actor Choi Bool-am, who had been in and out of hospital since 2025, died at a Seoul hospital on 29 October, aged 86.
South Korean media reported that Choi had difficulty moving after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in March 2025. He stepped down from Korean Cuisine and Dining (《韩国人的饭桌》), the television programme he had hosted for 14 years, to focus on his recovery. His health recently deteriorated, and he died on 29 October with his wife, children and close friends by his side.
Born in Incheon, South Korea, in 1940, Choi studied film at university and dreamed of becoming a director. He began acting in a stage production of Hamlet in 1959 and formally entered the entertainment industry after joining a theatre company in 1965.
Choi took on challenging roles from a young age. In 1971, he played the crime-fighting Chief Park in the television series Chief Inspector. The drama achieved an exceptional viewership rating of 70%, cementing his status as one of the country's best-loved actors. The South Korean drama Chief Detective 1958, starring Lee Je-hoon in 2024, was a prequel to Chief Inspector. Choi made a cameo appearance in what would be his final performance.
Choi's screen career spanned more than 50 years. He became known as South Korea's “national father” after appearing in the long-running, 1,088-episode drama Country Diaries, which began in 1980. He also appeared in numerous films and remained active in theatre. His honours included the Baeksang Arts Awards, Grand Bell Awards and Korea Film Actors Awards. In 2014, he received the Order of Cultural Merit at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards.
