Choi Bool-am | |
|---|---|
 Choi in November 2008 | |
| Born | (1940-06-15)June 15, 1940 (age 85) Incheon, Korea |
| Occupations | Actor, professor |
| Years active | 1970–2025 |
| Honours | _ribbon.PNG) Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit (2014) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 최영한 |
| Hanja | 崔英漢 |
| RR | Choe Yeonghan |
| MR | Ch'oe Yŏnghan |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul | 최불암 |
| Hanja | 崔佛岩 |
| RR | Choe Bulam |
| MR | Ch'oe Puram |
Choi Bool-am (Korean: 최불암; born June 15, 1940) is a South Korean retired actor and a professor.[1][2][3]
Choi was born in the neighborhood ofGeumgok-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 theKorean Empire. Choi Cheol suddenly died when Choi was 8 years old and entered Sinheung Elementary School in Incheon. Choi moved toSeoul 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 nowChung-Ang University). He enteredHanyang 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 ofKim Jong-seo in the drama series,Prince Suyang.[6][4]
He is also the host forKorean Cuisine and Dining, a food travelogue series on food of Korea and theKorean diaspora.[7][8]
*Note; the whole list is referenced.[9]
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee / work | Result | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | the 10thBaeksang Arts Awards | Best TV Acting | 한백년(MBC) | Won | ||
| 1975 | the 11thBaeksang Arts Awards | Favorite TV Actor selected by readers | Choi Bool-am | Won | ||
| 1978 | the 17thGrand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | 세종대왕 | Won | ||
| 1978, | the 14thBaeksang Arts Awards | Excellent TV Acting | 당신(MBC) | Won | ||
| 1979 | the 18thGrand Bell Awards | Best Actor | 달려라 만석아 | Won | ||
| 1980 | the 1st Korean Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | 최후의 증인 | Won | ||
| 2008 | the 3rdSeoul International Drama Awards | Star Hall of Fame | Choi Bool-am | Won | ||
| 2022 | the 15thKorea Drama Awards | Achievement Award | Choi Bool-am | Won | [11] | |
| 2025 | 52ndKorea Broadcasting Prizes | Best Host | Choi Bool-am | Won | [12] |
| State | Award Ceremony | Year | Honor | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[note 1] | 2014 | Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit | [13] |
| 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] |