Late Korean TV icon Choi Bul-am requested documentary chronicle his life amid illness

The late actor Choi Bul-am asked for a documentary to be made about his life while he was battling illness, it has belatedly been revealed. MBC aired a special encore broadcast of its documentary, "Paha, This Is Choi Bul-am," on Friday. Originally broadcast in May this year, the program revisits Choi's life and acting career through music in the format of a radio documentary. It was rebroadcast in tribute to the actor, who passed away on Thursday. During the program, viewers learned that Choi had personally approached the production team to request the documentary. According to an on-screen caption, "In 2025, while already undergoing treatment, actor Choi Bul-am called the production team himself and asked them to make a program that would look back on his life." The caption continued, "In response to his request, this documentary was broadcast in May this year, while he was still alive." Choi died at around 10 p.m. on Thursday at a hospital in Gangseo District, Seoul, where he had been receiving inpatient treatment. He was 87. Following surgery for a herniated disc last year, Choi report