Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young shared that veteran actor Choi Bul-am, 86, who is receiving inpatient treatment, appeared stable.
"I visited our 'national father' Choi Bul-am and paid my respectful regards," the minister wrote on his social media Friday. "He greeted me warmly with his signature 'paha' laughter, which gave me great peace of mind." The minister added, "Choi shared many words with me, from recent worldly affairs to art and religion, and warmly encouraged me."
The minister also signaled a future meeting after the actor's discharge. "Choi said we should have a drink together once he is discharged before long. Without hesitation, I asked him to buy me makgeolli," he said.
The minister also revealed that he handed Choi video material from the film "The Last Witness" (1980). The film, in which Choi starred, was produced at 158 minutes in 1980, but a significant portion was cut due to censorship and it was hastily edited and released regardless of director Lee Doo-yong's intentions at the time.
The Korean Film Archive later restored the original in 2003, producing and releasing a 154-minute version, and also released it on Blu-ray in 2017. "With this work, Choi won the Best Actor award at the first Korean Association of Film Critics Awards," the minister said. "When Korean Film Archive Director Mo Eun-young presented him with the Blu-ray of this film as a memento, he was very pleased."
Choi underwent surgery for a herniated disc last year and, as his mobility became impaired, stepped down from the KBS 1TV current affairs and culture program "Korean Table," which he had hosted for 14 years, and is now hospitalized receiving rehabilitation treatment.
The hospital visit was made on Wednesday with the Korean Film Archive director, ahead of Choi's birthday on June 15. Choi's wife, actor Kim Min-ja, who had been keeping watch in the hospital room, was also present.
