South Korean television icon Choi Bool-am dies
The actor was 87.
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South Korean actor Choi Bool-am died on Thursday at the age of 87. He became particularly well known in South Korea for television roles in which he played a father figure, and for the long-running programme Korean Cuisine and Dining.
According to Yonhap, Choi died at around 10 p.m. local time in a hospital in Seoul. He had been receiving treatment there after his health deteriorated in recent months.
The actor became a nationally recognisable figure in South Korea through his role in the drama series Country Diaries. He played a father figure in a farming family for many years. The series grew into one of the country's most recognisable television programmes.
Choi also presented the KBS programme Korean Cuisine and Dining for fourteen years from 2011. The programme saw him travel across South Korea, with the country's regional food culture at its centre. He stopped presenting after his mobility deteriorated.
According to South Korean media, Choi began his career on stage in 1959 with Hamlet. He later worked at the national theatre and became a familiar presence on television. He also became known for the so-called Choi Bool-am series, short comedic stories that became popular among young people.
Alongside his work as an actor, Choi was involved in supporting children and young people. South Korean media reported his death as the end of a long career in which television, theatre and social work overlapped. No official statement on the funeral was available at the time of publication.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts were reported consistently by Yonhap and The Korea Times. The description of his cultural significance is contextual and was not presented as a measurable claim.
- confirmed Choi Bool-am died at the age of 87. — Confirmed by Yonhap and The Korea Times. source
- confirmed He presented Korean Cuisine and Dining for fourteen years. — Mentioned in both sources used. source
- confirmed He began his stage career in 1959 with Hamlet. — Mentioned in Yonhap's biographical retrospective. source
Editor's note
His death, age and main television programmes were reported by several South Korean media outlets. Details of the funeral were not yet known.Sources
- Beloved S. Korean TV icon Choi Bool-am dies at 87 — Yonhap News Agency
- Legendary actor Choi Bool-am dies at 87 — The Korea Times
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „choi bool-am”
- NU.nl — „choi bool-am”
- De Telegraaf — „choi bool-am”