Actor Choi Bul-am (real name Choi Young-han) received the sacrament of the sick from Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung shortly before his passing.
According to reports from the broadcasting and Catholic communities on October 30, Cardinal Yeom visited Choi, who was hospitalized in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on October 20 to administer the sacrament. The sacrament of the sick is a Catholic rite that involves prayers and blessings for believers suffering from illness or old age.
The connection between the two dates back to 2018 when Choi was baptized by Cardinal Yeom in October of that year. He chose the name Francis, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, who cared for the poor and marginalized. At that time, he also renewed his wedding vows with his wife, actress Kim Min-ja.
Cardinal Yeom is scheduled to officiate Choi's funeral mass on November 2.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young expressed his condolences on social media, stating, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of actor Choi Bul-am. He was a great mentor and pillar in the cultural and artistic community of South Korea, leaving warm memories for each citizen across generations. I pray for his peaceful rest, as he shared laughter and tears with the people throughout his life." He also extended his heartfelt condolences to Choi's wife, Kim Min-ja, and the bereaved family.
Choi Bul-am passed away at around 10 p.m. on October 29 at the age of 87. His funeral will be held at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul, with the burial scheduled for 7 a.m. on November 2. The funeral will be conducted in honor of his long-standing commitment to children and youth through the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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