"My marriage conditions were poor"... Late actor Choi Bul-am's deep affection for his wife, a top actress, in the spotlight again

Actor Choi Bul-am has passed away. His wife, Kim Min-ja, swallowed her tears at the wake while greeting mourners.

Choi passed away at around 10 p.m. on the 29th at a hospital in Gwanggye District, Seoul, while receiving inpatient treatment, at the age of 87.

The late actor was transferred to Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at around 12:20 a.m. on the 30th. It is reported that Kim Min-ja followed her husband's body, continuously shedding tears over the grief of losing him.

On the 30th, Kim Min-ja received mourners at the wake for the late actor, which was set up in Room 20 of the funeral hall at Seoul Asan Medical Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. She tried to hold back her tears while firmly holding the hands of the mourners who visited the wake.

Choi is also famous for an anecdote from his days as an unknown actor, when he fell in love at first sight with Kim Min-ja, a star of that era, and abruptly paid for her tea before disappearing. After debuting as a KBS public recruitment talent in the third cohort in 1963, Choi had already taken a liking to Kim Min-ja, who was enjoying popularity. To get closer to her, he made efforts such as leaving the theater stage and transferring his affiliation to a broadcasting station.

The two later developed into a romantic relationship naturally after appearing together in the National Theater Company's play "Change of Season" in 1968. In 2022, Choi appeared on KBS2's "Immortal Songs" and revealed, "My marriage conditions were truly poor. I was the only son of an orphaned mother, and I did theater, the poorest profession. It was a difficult position to gain a woman's favor."

He continued, "Yet my wife chose me, and it seems I will not be able to repay that in a lifetime," expressing his deep affection.

Choi Bul-am and Kim Min-ja married in 1970 after four years of dating. Despite her outstanding acting abilities, having won the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Broadcasting Grand Prize, Kim Min-ja voluntarily reduced her activities, saying, "If both of us run wild on stage, our family cannot be maintained. When you work hard, I will keep the home."

While Choi Bul-am solidified his status as a national star with "Detective Chief" and "Country Diary," Kim Min-ja devoted herself to supporting him from behind the scenes.

Choi served as the National Chairman of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation for 40 years. Kim Min-ja also dedicated half a lifetime to helping with cochlear implant surgery and rehabilitation for children with hearing impairments, serving as the chairman of the incorporated foundation "Snail of Love" since 2004.

As the couple's 56-year love story was brought into the spotlight again, netizens responded with comments such as "They were a beautiful couple," "The grief is beyond measure," "May you find peace," and "Rest in peace."

The late actor's funeral will be held for five days under the auspices of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation. The departure ceremony will be held at 7 a.m. on November 2. Subsequently, a funeral mass will be conducted at Yeouido Cathedral in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, presided over by Cardinal Nham Soo-jeong. The burial site is Donghwa Memorial Park in Paju City, Gyeonggi Province.