Pop-opera tenor Im Hyung-joo to sing 'Ave Maria' at Choi Bool-am's funeral Mass

Pop-opera tenor Im Hyung-joo, 40, will perform at the funeral Mass for the late actor Choi Bool-am, set for Monday morning at Yeouido Cathedral in Seoul.

Im is scheduled to sing "Ave Maria" at the Mass, which will be presided over by Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung, according to music industry sources Saturday.

"Ave Maria" is one of Im's signature pieces.

In September 2023, Im performed the piece impromptu during a special audience with Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit to Mongolia.

Im and Choi were close, with Im referring to Choi as "uncle-in-law" in everyday life. Choi and his wife, actor Kim Min-ja, were often seen attending Im's performances.

Upon learning of Choi's death, Im wrote on Instagram: "My beloved and respected uncle-in-law Choi Bool-am — seeing you smile so warmly in this photo taken a few years ago makes my heart ache all the more."

Im added: "I still remember you telling me to smile and say a proper farewell when my own time comes. I will try to honor those words. I love you, uncle-in-law."

In a separate post, Im wrote: "I cannot believe it. Tears just keep falling. I never knew that the greeting I gave you during a hospital visit a few months ago would be our final farewell."

Choi Bool-am, beloved as the "nation's father" for embodying the archetypal Korean paternal figure, died Thursday at a hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where he had been receiving inpatient care, Yonhap reported.

Choi underwent surgery for a herniated disc in March last year, after which his mobility declined and he stepped down from the KBS 1TV current-affairs program "Hansaramui Bapsang" (roughly, "A Korean's Table"), which he had hosted for 14 years since 2011. Choi had been working on rehabilitation, but his health deteriorated sharply in his final months.

Over a 67-year acting career, Choi was active across drama series, film and theater.

Choi received the best actor prize in the TV category at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 1974 and 1978, the best actor prize in the theater category at the same awards in 1969 and 1971, the best supporting actor prize at the Grand Bell Awards in 1978, the best actor prize at the Grand Bell Awards in 1979, the Mugunghwa Order of Civil Merit in 1998, and the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit in 2014.

Choi was first appointed an honorary police officer in 1972 in recognition of his contribution to improving the public image of police through the drama series "Susa Banjang" (roughly, "Detective Chief"). In 2024, Choi became the first civilian named honorary director general of the National Investigation Headquarters, equivalent to the rank of senior superintendent general.

Choi also committed to social causes for children and youth — appearing in special live broadcasts to help find missing children and support those with rare and incurable diseases, and serving as national fundraising chair for ChildFund Korea and chairman of the nonprofit Zero Camp.

The funeral will be held as an official ChildFund Korea organizational ceremony.