Choi Bul-am Gets a Visit From Minister Choi Hwi-young, Who Says She’s Reassured by His Signature “Paha” Laugh

[Exclusive Photo] The “Paha” laugh ringing through the hospital room… Minister Choi Hwi-young shares a “makgeolli promise” with 국민 배우 (National Actor) Choi Bul-am

A national gesture toward a pillar of the times, and an “artistic exchange” in the hospital room

A living legend of Korean pop culture, actor “Choi Bul-am” (86), is drawing widespread attention for the heavy sense of presence he delivered from his hospital bed. Minister Choi Hwi-young of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism visited him directly while he is focusing on rehabilitation after his admission, and conveyed a message that went beyond simple comfort—expressing hopes for his recovery and extending a national-level gesture of respect.

On the 13th, Minister Choi said through her official social networking service (SNS) that she visited his hospital room together with “Kwon Young-sil, director of the Korea Film Archive” on the 11th. Actor “Kim Min-ja”, Choi Bul-am’s lifelong companion, was also there, adding further meaning to the moment. The hospital visit grew into “a conversation across the era”, where deep insights were shared not only about well-being, but also about art and religion and the state of the world at present.

From the classic “Eunsung” pub to a planned “makgeolli get-together”

The most intriguing part of the story is the straightforward promise the two made to each other. When “Choi Bul-am” proposed getting together for drinks after his discharge, Minister Choi immediately asked for “makgeolli”, setting a plan for a full reunion outside the hospital. In particular, memories of “Eunsung,” the legendary pub once run by Choi Bul-am’s mother—whose story says it used to soothe the spirits of poor artists from the past—kept coming up, and the hospital room soon filled with warm nostalgia and the pair’s signature “Paha” laughter.

A “The Last Witness” Blu-ray handover ceremony that rises again, overcoming the pain of censorship, and a triumphant reunion

The highlight of the visit that day was the handover ceremony for the Blu-ray of the 1980 film “The Last Witness”. The ill-fated masterpiece, shattered by the harsh sword of censorship at the time of its release, later returned to life as a Blu-ray after being restored into a 154-minute original in 2003 and then officially revived as a Blu-ray in 2017. Seeing “Choi Bul-am” face this work again—so lifelike it felt like a double—he could not hide his overwhelming emotions.

The journey of the “People’s Father” that continues

Last year, after the effects of “a herniated disc” made “Choi Bul-am” unable to move around easily, he had to step down from KBS 1TV’s “Korean Table, the Table of the Korean People”, which had been satisfying the public’s hunger for 14 years. But even at age 86, his artistic spirit and determination to undergo rehabilitation remain very much ongoing. The public is looking forward to the day when he will once again pour a “makgeolli cup” in good health.