Famous Veteran Actress Kim Soo Mi Passes Away
Famous beloved veteran actress Kim Soo Mi has passed away.
Actress Kim Soo Mi (real name Kim Myung Ok), beloved for her roles as spirited mothers and grandmothers across TV dramas, variety shows, movies, and home shopping, has passed away at 75. She was found unconscious at her home on the 25th of October and transported to Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The cause of death was reportedly hyperglycemic shock, with a sudden increase in blood glucose levels.
Born in 1949 in Gunsan, she was accepted into a university Korean literature program but had to give up due to financial constraints. Known for her striking beauty, often compared to that of Natalie Wood, and her impressive acting skills, she debuted as an actress in 1971 as part of the third cohort of MBC talent.
One of her most iconic works was “Country Diary,” Korea’s longest-running drama, which aired for 22 years starting in 1980. At 31, she vividly portrayed the elderly character “Il Yong Eom Nee,” a farmer’s wife, becoming a scene-stealer despite being younger than Park Eun Soo, who played her on-screen son. Her performances in “Country Diary” and the drama “Season of Men” (1985–1986) earned her the 1986 MBC Drama Award.
Even in her 70s, she remained active, recently starring as herself in tvN’s “Behind Every Star” (2022) and leading in “Marrying the Mafia: Returns” (2023). She also played the lead in the musical “Mother” this past May, just before her health declined.
A skilled cook, she frequently appeared on cooking shows, sharing her recipes with top chefs on various programs.
Her passing has drawn tributes from colleagues. During her life, Kim Soo Mi expressed a unique wish on a broadcast: “I want my funeral to be full of laughter, as if I’ve gone with a smile. I hope it’s a place to remember Kim Su Mi rather than a space for mourning.”
May her soul rest in peace.
Source: (A)
