Tributes pour in for iconic actor Choi Bool-am, gov't bestows highest cultural merit award

The passing of veteran actor Choi Bool-am, who died at the age of 87 on Thursday, has sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the nation. President Lee Jae Myung and figures within the industry have honored him as a warm-hearted father figure who defined Korean television for nearly seven decades. On Friday, he was posthumously awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the highest class of cultural honors from the Korean government, recognizing his pivotal contributions to the country's performing arts and public welfare.

President Lee expressed deep sorrow over Choi's passing, praising his role as the nation's father figure and recalling his philosophy that "to become a good actor, one must first become a good human being."

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