This undated file photo shows actress Kim Soo-mi. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean veteran actress Kim Soo-mi, whose role as a cantankerous single village mother in the popular two-decade-long drama series “Country Diaries” (1980-2002) cracked up audiences, died of cardiac arrest Friday. She was 75.
According to the police, the 75-year-old actress was found unconscious at her home by her son and was transported to Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in southern Seoul at around 8 a.m., where she was pronounced dead in the emergency room.
The police are investigating the exact circumstances of her death.
She began her acting career on MBC TV in 1971 and went on to appear in hundreds of TV series and movies, establishing herself as one of the leading actresses of her generation.
She rose to public prominence with her iconic role in the popular drama “Country Diaries,” where she portrayed an elderly woman despite being in her 30s. This performance earned her the Grand Prize at the 1986 MBC Drama Awards.
Building on the success, she carved out a unique niche in the Korean acting scene by taking on roles characterized by larger-than-life and straightforward personalities.
As recently as 2023, she starred in the comedy franchise film “Marrying the Mafia: Returns,” where she played the head of a gang family, trying to persuade her youngest daughter, who has vowed not to marry, to settle down with an ideal man.
The actress also appeared in numerous reality TV shows, including tvN’s “Mother’s Touch: Korean Side Dishes,” where she showcased her cooking skills.
In May, she was hospitalized due to fatigue and had been on a temporary break from acting and other activities.
(Yonhap)
