Who was Choi Bul-am?

Choi Bul-am, whose real name was Choi Young-han, was one of South Korea's most beloved fatherly figures on screen. He died on October 29, 2026, at the age of 87, according to Yonhap News.

What did Kim Hye-ja say at the funeral?

Kim Hye-ja, who played his wife for 22 years in the MBC drama 'Jeonwon Diary,' visited the Seoul Asan Medical Center funeral hall on the evening of October 30. She said, "I hope to see him open his eyes once more. He is someone I miss so much, so I will see him again soon."

Who else attended?

Go Doo-shim, who played the eldest daughter-in-law in the same drama, also visited. Former Minister of Culture Yoo In-chon, who played the second son, said he considered Choi a father in both his career and personal life. Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Choi treated him kindly even though they once ran against each other in an election 30 years ago.

Why is the funeral tied to a children's charity?

Choi served as national supporter chairman of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation for more than 40 years, starting in 1985. His involvement began after a storyline in 'Jeonwon Diary' about adopting a child in 1981. According to foundation chairman Hwang Young-ki, his service included overseas fundraising, volunteer work in Africa, and a 14-year musical program at Gimcheon Juvenile Prison.

For international fans

Choi appeared in works such as 'Susa Banjang' and 'Yeongung Sidae,' as well as 'Jeonwon Diary,' one of Korea's longest-running family dramas. Fans outside Korea can check streaming availability for these titles on local platforms.