'Father of the Nation' Choi Bool-am Passes Away…Leaves Warm Footprints in Suwon

Actor Choi Bool-am, beloved as the 'Father of the Nation,' left footprints of sharing and cultural exchange in Suwon as well.

According to Gyeonggi Province and Suwon City on the 30th, Choi Bool-am (birth name: Choi Young-han) participated in social contribution events held in Suwon and engaged in cultural exchanges with local artists, while introducing Suwon's cuisine and the stories of its people to the nation through broadcasting.

The late actor served as a promotional ambassador for Gyeonggi Province's 'Infinite Care' initiative in 2009. Infinite Care was introduced in 2008 during the global financial crisis to address welfare blind spots and prevent low-income families from falling deeper into poverty.

On November 3, 2009, at the 1st anniversary celebration of the Infinite Care project held at Hanuuri Art Hall in Jangan-gu, Suwon, he received his certificate of appointment as promotional ambassador from Kim Moon-soo, then Governor of Gyeonggi Province. On that day, he donated cherished items including his neckties to a charity auction, participating in the spirit of sharing.

On December 29 of the same year, he attended a charity auction proceeds handover ceremony held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government office in Suwon. At the time, the auction proceeds of 15,115,700 won from items donated by prominent figures including provincial ambassadors were transferred to the Community Chest of Korea to support families in crisis.

There is also a record of him supporting the dreams of disabled children.

On October 15, 2013, he attended the founding ceremony of the 'Hello! SEM Orchestra' held at Gyeonggi Art Center (formerly Gyeonggi Culture and Arts Center) in Suwon.

This orchestra, organized jointly by Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Able Art, and the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, was a project to provide professional music education opportunities for disabled children and youth. Thirty-five individuals selected through public auditions received instruments and educational support.

Choi Bool-am, who was the national chairman of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation at the time, attended the founding ceremony and cheered on the children's new beginning.

He also promoted Suwon and its cuisine through broadcasting.

During the filming of 'Korean Dining Table' on KBS in 2013, he met Park Yo-a, a Korean painter active in Suwon, and together they drew a picture of dried filefish. The late actor chose a 4B pencil instead of ink and personally sketched the dried filefish.

Artist Park recalled that Choi Bool-am's drawing skills were quite impressive at the time. It was a moment of emotional connection with a local artist on a broadcast that shared stories embedded in food.

On the broadcast 'Korean Dining Table,' the method of preparing Suwon galbi in Haenggung-dong was introduced, and in Episode 417, 'Flowers Entering My Mouth!,' which aired on June 13, 2019, an edible flower farm in Imok-dong, Jangan-gu, was featured.

The broadcast at the time highlighted new food culture that utilizes flowers as ingredients through the story of sisters who cultivated edible flowers and herbs.

In this way, the 'Korean Dining Table' series hosted by the late actor showcased various aspects of Suwon, from traditional galbi cuisine to urban agriculture and food culture.

Born in Incheon in 1939, Choi Bool-am made his debut in the theater production 'Hamlet' in 1959 and gained national love through the role of Detective Park Young-han in MBC's 'Crime Squad' and Chairman Kim in 'Country Diary.' From 2011, he hosted 'Korean Dining Table,' introducing cuisine from across the country and the lives of people embedded in them. He concluded his hosting role that had continued for 14 years in April of last year, after which he underwent rehabilitation treatment and passed away on the night of the 29th at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. He was 87 years old.

Choi Bool-am, who long presented the image of a Korean father through television, leaves behind in Suwon a single necktie given for neighbors in need, cheers of support for disabled children, and a broadcast that captured the lives of local residents as his legacy.