According to his family on October 30, Choi passed away around 10 p.m. the previous night on October 29 while hospitalized for treatment at a medical center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. After undergoing surgery for a herniated disc last year, he had been focusing on rehabilitation, but his health was reported to have declined rapidly in recent days.
Born in 1939, the late actor debuted in 1959 with the stage play "Hamlet" and entered the broadcasting industry in 1967 after being recruited as a special-hire talent for KBS. He subsequently earned tremendous love as a definitive "national actor" representing South Korea, portraying Chief Inspector Park Young-han in MBC's "Chief Inspector"—the pioneer of Korean-style investigative television dramas—and President Kim of Yangchon-ri in "Country Diaries," the country's longest-running television series that aired for 22 years.
Never hesitating to take on elderly roles even in his youth and wholeheartedly devoted to his craft, he shared the screen with Kim Hye-ja as a married couple across numerous productions, including "Frog Husband," "Country Diaries," and "Princess Hours," shaping an unassuming, relatable image of a Korean father. In addition, during the 1990s, the "Choi Bul-am Series" of humor pieces inspired by his trademark "Paha~" laugh swept the country, allowing him to connect closely with the public through a warm presence that spanned generations.
Beyond his acting career, he served as a member of the 14th National Assembly in 1992, and from 2011 until last year, he hosted KBS 1TV's "Korean Cuisine and Dining" for 14 years, leaving a profound mark as a presenter of cultural and current affairs programming.
Furthermore, he served as the national patron head of ChildFund Korea, dedicating his life to philanthropic activities and social contributions for children and youth.
In accordance with his lifelong dedication to social causes, the funeral will be conducted as a ChildFund Korea funeral. The memorial altar has been set up at the Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall in Seoul, and he is survived by his wife, actor Kim Min-ja, his son Dong-nyeok, and his daughter Dong-bi.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)