Tenor Lim Hyung-joo mourns late actor Choi Bool-am

Popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo expressed his grief and regret following the funeral mass for the late actor Choi Bool-am. During the service held at Yeouido Cathedral in Seoul, Lim performed the song ‘Ave Maria’ to honor the deceased.

Lim shared on social media that he struggled to maintain composure during the performance. He noted that while he managed to suppress his emotions during the first verse, he found it difficult to control his tears from the second verse onward. He expressed apology to Choi for not being able to fulfill the late actor's final request to bid farewell with a smile, as if they would meet again.

Lim and Choi shared a close, family-like bond, with Lim referring to Choi as his uncle. Choi Bool-am passed away at the age of 87 on January 29 at a hospital in Seoul. He was posthumously awarded the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit for his contributions to the development of popular culture and arts. Choi was widely recognized for his roles in ‘Chief Inspector Park’ and ‘Country Diaries,’ as well as his long-running hosting of ‘Korean Food Table’.