Jeon Won Ilgi co-stars Kim Ji-young and Nam Sung-jin mourn Choi Bul-am at Seoul funeral hall
Kim Ji-young and Nam Sung-jin, who played Bokgil and Yeongnam opposite Choi Bul-am in MBC's *Jeon Won Ilgi*, visited his funeral hall on October 31.
"A great mountain" — co-stars pay respects
Kim Ji-young and Nam Sung-jin visited Choi Bul-am's funeral hall at Seoul Asan Hospital in Songpa-gu on October 31. Choi died on October 29 at approximately 10 PM at age 87. (Sources disagree on the hospital: one places his death at a facility in Gangseo-gu, another at Seoul Asan Hospital.)
The couple met on the set of Jeon Won Ilgi, where Kim played Bokgil and Nam played Yeongnam, grandson of Kim Hoejangjang—the role Choi held throughout the drama's run. They later married.
Nam spoke of Choi's influence beyond acting itself. "When we debuted as actors and were cast together with my wife in Jeon Won Ilgi, he was like a great mountain to us, and beyond the life of an actor, he was a great mentor who taught us so much."
Kim was more direct. "He was a father and a teacher." She struggled with the loss. "Teacher, you were so precious and valuable to us, but now I cannot see you again, which is so regrettable. Still, I will pray for your peaceful rest."
Funeral details and posthumous honor
The funeral hall occupies Room 20 at Seoul Asan Hospital. The five-day funeral proceeds under the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation. Departure is set for 7 AM on November 2 from Seoul Asan Hospital (one source lists 7:40 AM). A funeral mass will follow at Yeouido Cathedral, with burial at Donghwa Gyeongmo Park.
On October 30, Choi received the Geumgwan Cultural Medal posthumously—Korea's highest honor in cultural and arts. He had undergone lumbar disc surgery in March of the previous year and had been in rehabilitation treatment since.
Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Eui-sun attended on October 31, maintaining a connection that stretched back to the era of late founder Chung Ju-young. Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon served as a funeral committee member. Actor Song Il-guk said Choi "stood by difficult children for over 40 years" and demonstrated through his life that "an actor's dignity is completed through life."
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