Choi Bul-am’s Last Record in Uniform, Captured Nine Years Ago

Actor Choi Bul-am (born Choi Young-han), who was deeply loved by the public as the “nation’s father,” is seen in newly released, previously unpublished photos wearing a neatly pressed military uniform and looking resolute.

A combat uniform worn again after half a century—the first and last time since enlisting in 1960

The photos were taken in 2015 by Korean American photographer Rami Hyun as part of a promotional collaboration for the Ground Forces Festival, an Army cultural festival. While discussing promotional concepts with military officials, Hyun came up with the character of a “command sergeant major,” the unit’s senior-most noncommissioned officer, as a figure suited to a symbolic military role. He selected Choi, an actor with a wealth of experience and a commanding presence.

Choi accepted the invitation and changed into a uniform provided by the military when he arrived at the shoot. The combat uniform prepared for him, however, had a sergeant’s insignia rather than a master sergeant’s. Choi, who enlisted in the Army in 1960, looked at himself in the mirror and reflected, “I’m wearing a military uniform for the first time in a very long while, after being asked to. I think this will be the first and last time in more than 50 years since I was discharged.”

A lens devoted to capturing the dignity of the uniform, in a lasting tribute to the late actor

Hyun has pursued Project Soldier, photographing some 8,000 uniformed public servants in South Korea—including military personnel, police officers and firefighters—who protect the nation and society. He later expanded his work to the United States, where he continues to document the service and stories of overseas veterans who fought in the Korean War.

After recently learning of Choi’s death, Hyun carefully reviewed photo archives kept in his studio and uncovered this record. In his final military uniform, worn for the first time in more than 50 years, Choi’s resolute bearing serves as a reminder of the patriotism and quiet dignity of a great actor who helped sustain an era.