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Beloved Actor Choi Bul-am Passes Away at 87, Tributes Pour In

Son Hyeong-an

Published : Oct 30, 2026 4:45 PM

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Actor Choi Bul-am (real name Choi Young-han), widely known as the "national father," has passed away at the age of 87. According to the bereaved family, Choi passed away around 10:00 p.m. yesterday (October 29) while receiving inpatient treatment at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The wake has been set up at the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Seoul.

Condolences from all walks of life followed. President Lee Jae-myung posted on X (formerly Twitter) today (October 30), expressing deep condolences over the passing of "national actor Choi Bul-am" and praying for his rest, stating, "We will remember the teacher who stayed by the public's side for a long time as the father of our era."

Mourners visiting the wake included actor Na Moon-hee, former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, who played the deceased's son Yong-sik in the drama "Country Diaries," and hanbok designer Park Sulsnyeo, who made the deceased's burial shroud, alongside political figures such as Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok.

We will bring you more details through the video.

(Produced by Son Hyeong-an | Video editing: Ryu Ji-su | Design: Lee Su-min | Production: SBS Digital News)