Long before Korean dramas became a global entertainment phenomenon, Choi Bul-am was already one of South Korea’s most recognizable television stars. The veteran actor, whose portrayals of a principled detective and a devoted family patriarch made him a beloved figure across generations, died on October 29 at the age of 87.
Choi belonged to a generation of performers who helped establish Korean television decades before the country’s entertainment industry found international success. While today’s global audiences are familiar with Korean dramas through streaming services, Choi’s career reflected an earlier era when television brought stories of family, community and everyday life into millions of South Korean homes.
His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from entertainers and viewers who grew up watching his performances. Known affectionately as the nation’s father, Choi remained a familiar presence on Korean television for more than six decades.
Choi died at around 10 p.m. while receiving treatment at a hospital in Seoul’s Gangseo district. He had struggled with mobility problems following surgery for a herniated disc in March 2025 and had been undergoing rehabilitation. His health reportedly deteriorated sharply in the period leading up to his death.
Choi began his acting career in a 1959 stage production of Hamlet before gaining national recognition through two television roles that defined his public image.
In Chief Inspector, a crime drama broadcast by South Korean network MBC, he portrayed Park Young-han, a police detective known for his commitment to justice. In Country Diaries, a long-running rural family drama, he played Kim, a respected household patriarch whose warmth and steady presence resonated with viewers.
The contrasting roles helped establish Choi as both a figure of authority and a symbol of family values. His characters became so familiar that audiences continued to identify him with them long after the programs had become part of Korean television history.
Choi later extended his career beyond scripted drama. Beginning in 2011, he hosted Korean Cuisine and Dining on South Korean public broadcaster KBS, traveling across the country to explore regional dishes and the lives of the people who prepared them.
The program introduced viewers to traditional food and local communities through Choi’s distinctive voice and gentle storytelling. He eventually stepped away from the show following his surgery in 2025.
News of his death brought emotional tributes from figures across South Korea’s entertainment industry.
Popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo, who shared a close personal relationship with Choi and his wife, actress Kim Min-ja, recalled visiting the actor in the hospital several months earlier. In a social media post on October 30, Lim said he had never imagined that their conversation would become their final goodbye.
Lim described Choi as a beloved uncle figure who had supported his musical career for years. He recalled how Choi and his wife regularly attended his solo concerts and encouraged him with thoughtful advice.
The singer expressed gratitude not only for their personal relationship but also for the warmth Choi had brought to generations of television viewers.
Composer Yoon Il-sang offered a similar tribute, recalling how Choi had been a constant presence throughout his childhood.
Yoon remembered the actor’s righteous detective in Chief Inspector and his dependable father figure in Country Diaries, saying Choi’s deep voice, hearty laughter and affection for people had left a lasting impression.
He described Choi as someone who had done more than portray an era on television. Through his performances, the actor had become part of the lives and memories of those who watched him.
Fans echoed those sentiments online, offering farewells to Choi’s most famous television characters and recalling the comfort they had found in his performances and narration. Others described his passing as another sign that a generation of entertainers who shaped South Korea’s cultural identity was disappearing.
Choi’s death comes at a time when Korean television has reached audiences far beyond its domestic market. Yet his legacy remains rooted in the decades when the industry was still building its place in South Korean households.
Through stories about justice, family and ordinary people, Choi helped define what television meant to generations of Korean viewers. His passing marks the loss of an actor whose work became part of the country’s shared cultural memory long before Korean dramas became a worldwide success.
