KBS1 broadcast screen capture

The representatives for actor Choi Bool-am, who was recently the subject of ‘health concerns’, denied the rumors about his health. Recently, junior actors Park Eun-su and Baek Il-seob made successive remarks on broadcasts expressing concern about Choi’s health, which fueled speculation that his condition had worsened.

Choi Bool-am’s son, Mr. Choi, told the press on the 11th that, “He is currently hospitalized, receiving rehabilitation treatment and recovering,” and added, “He will be discharged soon.”

He also said, “Back problems were partly among the reasons he stepped down from ‘Koreans’ Table’ last year,” and explained, “Because walking had become difficult, he underwent surgery followed by rehabilitation treatment. He is expected to leave (the hospital) soon.”

Last year, after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc and experiencing mobility difficulties, Choi Bool-am stepped down from the KBS1 current-affairs and culture program ‘Koreans’ Table’, which he had hosted for 14 years, and did not appear in public for a year.

Choi Bool-am is reportedly filming a documentary with MBC. MBC told multiple media outlets, “It is true that filming is underway,” adding, “The exact subject and scheduling have not been decided.”

Born in 1940, Choi Bool-am debuted in 1959 with the play ‘Hamlet’, and in 1965 he began his full-fledged acting career as a member of the National Theater Company.

His work in TV dramas took off in 1967, when he was selected in the 6th special recruitment of Seoul Central Broadcasting (now KBS) and appeared in the drama ‘Prince Suyang’ as Kim Jong-seo. Two years later, after moving to MBC, he gained nationwide popularity and established himself as a national actor by portraying Chief Park Young-han in the long-running domestic drama ‘Chief Inspector’ and Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in ‘Country Diaries’.