Choi Bool-am

In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.

Choi Bool-am (Korean: 최불암; born June 15, 1940) is a South Korean retired actor and a professor.^[1][2][3]

Choi Bool-am
Choi in November 2008
Born	(1940-06-15) June 15, 1940 (age 85) Incheon, Korea
Occupation(s)	Actor, professor
Years active	1970–2018
Honours	Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit (2014)
Korean name
Hangul	최불암
Hanja	崔佛岩
RR	Choe Bulam
MR	Ch'oe Puram
Birth name
Hangul	최영한
Hanja	崔英漢
RR	Choe Yeonghan
MR	Ch'oe Yŏnghan

Biography

Choi was born in the neighborhood of Geumgok-dong [ko], Dong District, Incheon, Korea, Empire of Japan in 1940.^[4] He is of the Haeju Choe clan.^[5] Choi was the only son to his father Choi Cheol, a business man, and his mother Lee Myeong-suk who was a daughter of a royal pharmacist of the Korean Empire. Choi Cheol suddenly died when Choi was 8 years old and entered Sinheung Elementary School in Incheon. Choi moved to Seoul to attend Jungang Middle School. Choi was drawn to theater as he entered a theater club at Jungang High School. Choi established directing experiences while at Seorabeol Art College (which has since merged into the now Chung-Ang University). He entered Hanyang University in 1960. Before graduation, Choi starred in several plays. Choi was recruited as a KBS TV actor in 1976, and entered stardom with the role of Kim Jong-seo in the drama series, Prince Suyang.^[6][4]

He is also the host for Korean Cuisine and Dining, a food travelogue series on food of Korea and the Korean diaspora.^[7][8]

Filmography

*Note; the whole list is referenced.^[9]

Film

Year	Title	Role
1967	Light and Shadow
1968	The Wings of Lee Sang
	Vega
	Female Bandits
1969	Madam Freedom
	Eunuch
1970	Scamp in Hanyang
	The Evening Bell
	Friendship of Hope
	What's the Use of Crying
	Nobody Knows
	The Sun Never Gets Old
1971	A Student of Life
	Say Goodbye Like a Man
	Burning Revenge
	I'm Your Family
	What Happened That Night
1972	An Jung-Geun, the Patriot
	One to One
	A Wonderful Life
	Looking for Sons and Daughters
1973	Testimony
	Married on the Bull
	Father
	An Age of Maiden
	Young Ones
	With My Love, Forever
	Non Gae, the Kisaeng
1974	Blue Jeans
	The Unforgettables
	Hwannyeo
	Transgression
	Gypsy of the Heart
	A White Handkerchief
1975	The 49th Day After Death
	End of an Affair
	Lust
	Red Shoes
	A Spy Remaining Behind
	Yeong-ja's Heydays
	Chun-Ja's Love Story
	Chang-Su's Heydays
1976	Wang Sib Ri, My Hometown
	Kan-Nan
	Graduating Students
	Family
	Rocking Horse and a Girl
	Mother
	Love of Blood Relations
	I Really Have a Dream
	A Byegone Romance
	Counting Stars in a Night Sky
1977	I Really Like You
	Arirang-A
1978	King Sejong, the Great	Hwang Hŭi
	Unsettling Afternoon
	The Gate
1979	Run Towards Tomorrow
	Thoughtless Mo-mo
	Romance Gray
1980	Good Windy Day
	The Last Witness
	Son of a Man
	Be Courageous Man-seok
1981	Three Times Each for Short and Long Ways
	Whale Island Escapade
1982	Chun-hi
1986	Gilsoddeum
1987	Our Joyful Young Days
1988	Dangerous Scent Married Couple
1990	Broken Children
2004	Sympathy for Us	Byeok-dol
2005	She's on Duty	Chief Prosecutor
2012	Monk Beopjeong's Chair	Narrator
2013	Buddha: The Great Departure	Narrator (dubbing)
2025	April Fireworks	Narrator

Television series

Year	Title	Role
1971–89	Chief Inspector	Lieutenant Park Yeonghan
1981–82	1st Republic	Syngman Rhee
1997–98	You and I	Park Jae-chul
2000	More Than Love	Kim Han-bong
2002	Sunlight	Choi Myung-ho
2004–05	The Age of Heroes	Cameo
2005–06	Sweet Spy	Choi Beom-gu
2006	Princess Hours	Emperor Seongjo
	Love Truly	Jang Min-ho
2008	Gourmet	Oh Seung-gun
2009	Smile, You	Kang Man-bok
2011–12	Heaven's Garden	Jung Boo-sik
2012	Road No. 1	Tae-ho (older)
2012	Happy Ending	Doo-soo's father
2014	Glorious Day	Kim Chul-soo
2018	Life on Mars	Chief Inspector (cameo)
	Goodbye to Goodbye	Seo Young-hee's father
2024	Chief Detective 1958	Old Park Yeonghan

Ambassadorship

• Ambassador of Public Relations to Seoul (2023)^[10]

Accolades

Award and nomination

Award and nomination won by Choi

Year	Award ceremony	Category	Nominee / work	Result	Ref.
1974	the 10th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best TV Acting	한백년(MBC)	Won
1975	the 11th Baeksang Arts Awards	Favorite TV Actor selected by readers	Choi Bool-am	Won
1978	the 17th Grand Bell Awards	Best Supporting Actor	세종대왕	Won
1978,	the 14th Baeksang Arts Awards	Excellent TV Acting	당신(MBC)	Won
1979	the 18th Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor	달려라 만석아	Won
1980	the 1st Korean Film Critics Association Awards	Best Actor	최후의 증인	Won
2008	the 3rd Seoul International Drama Awards	Star Hall of Fame	Choi Bool-am	Won
2022	the 15th Korea Drama Awards	Achievement Award	Choi Bool-am	Won	[11]
2025	52nd Korea Broadcasting Prizes	Best Host	Choi Bool-am	Won	[12]

State honors

List of State Honour(s)

State	Award Ceremony	Year	Honor	Ref.
South Korea	Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[note 1]	2014	Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit	[13]

Listicle

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement

Publisher	Year	List	Placement	Ref.
KBS	2023	The 50 people who made KBS shine	45th	[14][15][16][17]
Sisa Journal[note 2]	2015	Most Influential Person — Broadcasting & Entertainment	4th	[18]
	2019		9th	[19]

Notes

1. Since 2010 Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
2. Sisa Journal Next Generation Leader-Society was founded by Sisa Journal in 2008.