# Veteran Actor Choi Bool-am Dies at 87 Known for 'Susabanjang' and 'Countryside Life'

- URL: https://unnienote.app/en/news/choi-bool-am-actor-dies-at-87-legacy-c00856
- Published: 2026-10-29T19:46:42.883Z
- Publisher: Unnie Note

> Veteran actor Choi Bool-am died on October 30 at age 87, leaving behind a 67-year career as one of South Korea's most trusted everyman actors.

## Key points

1. Choi debuted on stage in 1959 and made his TV debut in 1967.
2. He played the father in 'Countryside Life' for 22 years.
3. In 2024 he became the first civilian named honorary head of the National Investigation Headquarters.

Veteran actor Choi Bool-am died on October 30, according to Yonhap News. He was 87.

## Who was Choi Bool-am?

Choi, whose real name was Choi Young-han, began his career on the stage in 1959 and was a member of the National Theater Company of Korea. He made his TV debut in 1967 with 'Suyangdaegun' on what is now KBS.

## What were his most famous roles?

His best-known work is the police drama 'Susabanjang,' which ran from 1971 to 1984 and again from 1985 to 1989. He later called it one of his signature works. He also played the father in the long-running family drama 'Countryside Life' from 1980 to 2002, a role he said he wanted to portray as a warm, dependable figure.

## Who was his co-star?

He worked often with actress Kim Hye-ja, appearing together in 'Frog Husband' and 'Palace,' among many others. They played a married couple in 'Countryside Life' for 22 years, and many viewers came to see them as a real-life couple.

## For international fans

Choi was widely seen as a symbol of ordinary Korean life on screen. His 67-year career spans stage, film and television, and his family dramas and police series remain widely recognized across generations in Korea.

## FAQ

### What was Choi Bool-am best known for?

He was best known for the police drama 'Susabanjang' and the long-running family drama 'Countryside Life,' where he played the father for 22 years.

### Did Choi Bool-am act in later years?

He stepped back from acting for a period after 2014 and returned to the stage in 2018 with the play 'When the Wind Blows and the Stars Shake.'

## Sources

- [Yonhap News](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261030002600005)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._