'국민 아버지'의 쾌유를 비는 마음, 막걸리 한 잔에 담긴 세월의 온기 > 뉴스

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young visited Choi Bul-am's hospital room with Mo Eun-young, director of the Korean Film Archive, on the 11th. Minister Choi said on social media that he still greets visitors with his signature ‘paha’ smile and chats with them about a wide range of topics, including world affairs, art, and religion. In particular, the sight of his wife Kim Min-ja silently guarding the hospital room resonated deeply with many people, as it gave an idea of ​​the long journey the two had walked together. Minister Choi revealed that he had offered him a glass of makgeolli after he was discharged from the hospital, suggesting that the simple promise was not just a drinking party but a restoration of warm communication filled with our emotions. These interactions prove that he is not simply a retired actor, but still exists as a spiritual pillar of our society.

The special point of this visit is that he shared his memories of ‘Eunseong’, a bar that his mother once ran. ‘Eunseong’ was a cultural cradle and a hideout where poor artists gathered to think about the times and discuss art during barren times. The part where Choi Bul-am burst into bright laughter when Minister Choi brought up the story of ‘Eunseong’, which evoked nostalgia for those times, shows how deeply he retains the spirit of that era. This is not simply a person's past history, but symbolizes that the history of hardships and passion that the Korean culture and arts world has gone through is embedded in the life of an actor. The laughter can be said to symbolize the artist's dignity and composure beyond physical pain.

Additionally, this visit added meaning to the delivery of the Blu-ray of the movie ‘The Last Witness’, which symbolizes the tragedy and restoration of Korean film history. At the time of production in 1980, much of this work was deleted and altered due to the violence of the times called censorship, and was finally restored to its original form through the efforts of the Korea Film Archive in 2003. The fact that Choi Bul-am won the Best Actor Award at the 1st Korean Association of Film Critics Awards for this work confirms that he is more than just a popular actor, it is a record of his struggle to preserve artistic value against the absurdity of the times. The medium called Blu-ray is the result of restoring damaged films of the past using modern technology, and it is also a visual symbol that shows that the value of Choi Bul-am's acting life must be preserved without change over time.

After undergoing lumbar disc surgery last year, Choi Bul-am left the long-running program ‘Korean Table’, which ran for 14 years, and has been away from the public for a while to focus on rehabilitation. He turns 86 on June 15 this year, and even though he has difficulty moving around, he informs the public about his current situation and strengthens his will for recovery. The path he walked contains all the joys and sorrows of modern Korean history, from the just Chief Inspector Park in ‘Chief of Investigation’ to the warm Chairman Kim in ‘Pastoral Diary’. Although his somewhat gaunt appearance was revealed in a recent documentary, the warmth of his language and laughter still solidify the fact that he is still the ‘national father’ of our time.