“My heart still races when I hear the Chief Inspector theme”… The legacy of Choi Bul-am, the “nation’s father” who embraced the joys and sorrows of ordinary people

A 70-year legacy of the “nation’s father,” who embraced the joys and sorrows of ordinary people

Actor Choi Bul-am (born Choi Young-han), who died on the 30th at age 87, spent nearly 70 years in step with modern Korean history, perfectly embodying the unassuming face of a neighbor. From a Chief Inspector brimming with humanity and a sense of justice to a dignified yet warm family patriarch and a village leader protecting a rural community, he was a one-of-a-kind actor who portrayed ordinary people’s lives with warmth and gravitas. After making his debut on the stage in 1959, he joined the National Theater Company and made his television debut in 1967 in Seoul Central Broadcasting Station’s (now KBS) “Prince Suyang”. In his late 20s, he played Kim Jong-seo, a general in his 50s, establishing himself early on as a master of portraying older characters. At age 30, he played an octogenarian in MBC’s “Headwind” in 1969, and in “The First Republic” in 1981, in his early 40s, he convincingly portrayed former President Syngman Rhee in his 80s, demonstrating commanding acting prowess that transcended his actual age.

Park Young-han, a hero of his era and the first honorary senior superintendent general

The work that made him an icon of his era was undoubtedly “Chief Inspector.” It explored the crimes that arose amid rapid industrialization and urbanization, and portrayed in depth the hardships of ordinary people and the anguish of police officers. In the role of Chief Inspector Park Young-han, who carried out his duties with deep compassion for humanity, Choi Bul-am played a decisive part in changing negative perceptions of the police at the time. Citizens lined up to visit him at the broadcasting station and plead for help solving their cases. When former convicts asked him for help, he even bought them handcarts with his own money to support their rehabilitation. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, he became the “first in the country” to be appointed an honorary police officer since the founding of the National Police Agency in 1972. In 2024, he became the only civilian to attain the rank of “honorary chief of the National Office of Investigation.”

The eternal home of Koreans, a “broad-canopied zelkova tree”

“Rural Diary” was another landmark work that earned him the title “the nation’s father.” At a time when rural life and family culture were changing rapidly, he played Kim Min-jae, the village head of Yangchon-ri, presenting the image of a thoughtful elder who led an extended family and looked after the village’s affairs, large and small. He played opposite actor Kim Hye-ja as her husband for 22 years, perfectly serving as a spiritual anchor who offered warmth and nostalgia in an era of increasingly nuclear families. Choi Bul-am’s acting philosophy was to be honest and genuine, and to show things without pretense. In “Chief Inspector,” he built the image of a humane detective with a trench coat and four cigarettes instead of a revolver. In “Rural Diary,” he heightened the show’s realism through meticulous character analysis, down to wearing a holey undershirt and creating a scorched floor mat by spraying it himself.

Acclaimed performances that graced the big screen as well as television

His screen presence shone not only on television but also in films. He left a strong impression in a range of movies, including “Renunciation,” “Yeong-ja’s Heyday,” “Son of Man,” and “The Last Witness,” taking on roles with considerable weight. In particular, he played a detective doggedly pursuing a murder case in “Son of Man,” and an elderly man living with the scars of war in “The Last Witness,” delivering performances of great depth.

Constant challenges and transformations across genres

After the 1980s, he focused on television dramas and stepped away from the film industry for a time, but never stopped challenging himself as an actor. In “You and I,” which posted a peak viewership rating of 66.9%, he played Captain Park, a romanticist, shedding his established image of solemnity and winning over audiences with his middle-aged charisma and humor. In 2004, he returned to the big screen with the film “Don’t Mess With Me,” showing off approachable comic action. For his 2008 role as Chef Oh, an authority on royal cuisine, in “Gourmet,” he made a dramatic transformation, giving up haircuts for nine months to grow a ponytail.

A great legacy transcending generations: a master remembered as a legend

After “A Pleasant Day” in 2014, he stepped away from acting for a while, saying he had chosen to withdraw because he felt he was no longer growing—a statement that revealed his exacting artistic principles. But in “Chief Inspector 1958” in 2024, which became his final work, he returned as an elderly Park Young-han, delivering a moving performance that transcended generations. The scenes in which he encourages younger detectives and visits the graves of colleagues who had passed away to salute them were hailed as a perfect and fitting end to the world of “Chief Inspector.” Actor Choi Bul-am spent a lifetime sharing in the public’s joys and sorrows. The 70-year arc of his career will remain an enduring landmark in the history of Korean popular culture.