Actor Shin Hyun-joon mourns Choi Bool-am: 'A grown-up we all wanted to be like'

Actor Shin Hyun-joon has paid tribute to the late Choi Bool-am.

Shin took to Instagram on Saturday to remember Choi, writing, "Teacher was a grown-up we all wanted to be like."

"Whenever something bad happened to the country, teacher would always say: 'I am truly sorry, as an adult. I am truly sorry to the young people, to the next generation,'" Shin wrote. "Those words carried a deep love for the next generation and the sincere wish of an elder who wanted to pass on a better world."

Shin added, "Teacher was someone who looked inward at his own responsibilities before blaming others, and who tried to understand the pain of those who were hurting. I love you. Thank you. Teacher."

Choi, widely regarded as the archetypal Korean father figure, died Thursday at the age of 87.

Mourners from the arts, culture and political worlds have been filing through the funeral hall since the first day of the service.

The government posthumously awarded Choi the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit, the top grade of the decoration.

Choi had previously received the Silver Crown Order of Cultural Merit at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards ceremony in November 2014.

The Order of Cultural Merit is awarded to those who have made distinguished contributions to the development of culture and the arts and to the public's enjoyment of cultural life.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Choi made his debut in the play "Hamlet" in 1959 and "remained a constant presence by the side of the Korean public for 67 years, moving across theater, drama series, film and educational programming." The ministry cited his roles as Detective Park Young-han in "Susa Banjang" — considered the originator of the Korean investigative drama — for 18 years, and as Chairman Kim of Yangchon-ri in "Jeonwon Ilgi," the longest-running domestic drama series, for 22 years, saying Choi helped lead the growth of Korean television drama.

The ministry also said Choi "was loved across generations as a national actor for portraying a down-to-earth, deeply human image of the Korean father," and that from 2011 Choi hosted "Hangukinui Bapsang," a long-running food and culture program, for 14 years, bringing stories of food and everyday life from across the country to viewers.