Kim Min-seok recalls 'honor' of facing Choi Bool-am in election 30 years ago

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok mourned the death of actor Choi Bool-am (born Choi Young-han) on Friday, saying the public would always remember Choi — as the nation's detective chief, as the village head of Yangchon-ri, and as a father and grandfather figure who guided Koreans through their culinary heritage.

Kim posted the tribute on Facebook that day, writing: "I bid farewell to the great actor Choi Bool-am."

Kim and Choi had faced each other in the Yeongdeungpo-eul constituency of Seoul during the 1996 15th general election. Kim ran as a candidate for the New Politics People's Congress, while Choi represented the New Korea Party. Choi was a sitting lawmaker at the time, having won a proportional-representation seat for the Unification National Party in the 14th general election, whereas Kim was a young politician making a second run after losing the same seat once before.

The matchup drew considerable attention — a nationally recognized actor-turned-incumbent facing a young politician who had served as student body president at Seoul National University. During the campaign, Kim used the slogan: "Choi Bool-am back to the stage, Kim Min-seok to the National Assembly."

Kim won the seat with 49,657 votes (48.87 percent), defeating Choi, who received 33,020 votes (32.49 percent). The victory also set a record for the youngest person elected to the National Assembly.

"It was an honor to have competed against a 'national-treasure actor' in the Yeongdeungpo Assembly election 30 years ago," Kim said, recalling that Choi had shown Kim it was possible to maintain a warm relationship even while competing against each other.

Kim went on to say that after the election, Choi had offered a kind wish — asking Kim to become a "national-treasure politician." "I fall far short of that wish, but I will treasure those words," Kim said, adding that every time the two met after the election, it was a genuinely warm and welcome encounter.

"I pray for the repose of Choi Bool-am's soul and offer my condolences to the bereaved family and fellow artists," Kim added.