Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Mourns Longtime Goodwill Ambassador Choi Bul-am: 'My Heart Feels Heavy'

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed his condolences over the passing of actor Choi Bul-am, saying, "My heart feels heavy knowing that we must now meet the nation's father—who always felt like he would stay by our side—only in our memories."

Mayor Oh posted a message on Facebook titled "Teacher Choi Bul-am, Father to Us All," writing, "Whenever we met him on screen as Detective Park in "Chief Inspector" or Chairman Kim in "Country Diaries," he brought warmth to our hearts, making his absence feel all the more profound."

He continued, "His hearty laughter embodied the image of our own fathers, and his voice carried the joys and sorrows of a generation that endured difficult times," recalling, "For 14 years, he traveled across the country to visit humble dining tables, listening to the lives of ordinary neighbors, and he never let go of his grip on helping children in need until the very end."

Mayor Oh noted that his ties with the Seoul Metropolitan Government were also special, stating, "He was our longest-serving goodwill ambassador, having been with us since 1998."

He added, "All of us in the Seoul family will remember with one heart the dedication he showed in serving as the face of Seoul for so many years."

Mayor Oh concluded his message by saying, "Thank you truly. Rest in peace," and "May the deceased rest in eternal peace."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.