SEOUL, Oct 30 — South Korean actor Choi Bool-am, 87 widely known as the nation’s father figure for his portrayals of paternal characters in popular television dramas, has died, his family said Friday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Choi, whose real name was Choi Young-han, died at around 10pm Thursday while receiving treatment at a hospital in western Seoul, according to his family.

The actor had experienced difficulties walking after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc in March last year, prompting him to step down as host of the KBS documentary programme Korean Food Table, which he had hosted for 14 years since 2011.

Choi became a household name through his role as detective Park Young-han in MBC’s long-running crime drama Chief Inspector, which aired from 1971 to 1989.

In an essay, Choi called Chief Inspector one of his favourite works, saying his heart still beats when he hears the theme song for the TV series, saying he learned a lot about life through it.

He cemented his reputation as a Korean father figure through his role in MBC’s rural family drama Country Diaries, which ran for 22 years from 1980 to 2002, one of South Korea’s longest-running television series.

Throughout his acting career of nearly seven decades, Choi was a versatile actor, with his performances spanning across TV, films and theatrical plays.

He was not afraid to take on small roles even after he became a household name and was known for playing roles of older people from early in his career, including playing former President Rhee Syng-man in his 80s when the actor was actually in his 40s.

He often appeared as husband and wife with fellow actor Kim Hye-ja in hit shows including Country Diaries to Princess Hours (2006), most recently.

Choi last appeared in Chief Detective 1958 (2024), the prequel to the popular TV series Chief Inspector, alongside actor Lee Je-hoon, who plays the grandson of Choi, who follows his grandfather’s path to also become a police detective.

Choi briefly entered politics in 1992, serving as a proportional representation lawmaker in the 14th National Assembly from 1992 to 1996 under the Unification National Party.

The actor’s hallmark laugh and easygoing attitude were traits that made him a beloved figure across different generations.

Choi emceed several current affairs and educational programmes, and his laugh became a favourite for many actors and comedians to imitate.

Being one of the country’s most acclaimed veteran actors, Choi received numerous accolades, including the Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actor in both TV and theatre, the Daejong Film Awards for Best Actor and national merits.

He was also the first civilian to be appointed as an honourary National Investigation Headquarters director.

In addition to his acting and political career, Choi was devoted to promoting the rights of children and youth.

In recognition of his efforts, his funeral will be hosted by the Chorogusan for Children foundation.

The actor is survived by his longtime wife Kim Min-ja, also an actor, and two children. — Bernama-Yonhap