Actor Kim Soo-mi, known for her friendly grandmother image and cooking skills, died at the age of 75 on Friday morning, according to reports.

Kim had been hospitalized for health reasons in May and July, temporarily halting her activities. Up until her hospitalization, she appeared in the musical “My Mother.”


Debuting in 1970, Kim rose to fame playing the role of Il-yong’s mother in MBC’s hit series “Country Diaries” (1980-2002). In the series, she portrayed a mother in her 70s, despite being only 31 at the time.

She was also renowned for her cooking skills, sharing them with those around her. Kim appeared on cooking shows like tvN’s “Mother’s Touch: Korean Side Dishes” (2018-20), where she shared her culinary tips with viewers.

Her son, Jung Myung-ho, married actor Seo Hyo-rim in 2019, and they welcomed a daughter the following year.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]