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| ▲ Veteran actress Kim Ji-mi (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- “She was a truly chosen actress.”
Following the news of the death of veteran actress Kim Ji-mi (real name Kim Myung-ja) on Tuesday, director Lee Jang-ho recalled the late star as a towering figure in Korean cinema in a phone interview with Yonhap News. Kim appeared in some 700 films and led the nation’s film industry for decades.
Kim was discovered in a “street casting” by legendary director Kim Ki-young and made her debut in 1957 with “Twilight Train.” She became a major star through the 1990s, working with renowned directors in films such as “The Land” (1974, directed by Kim Soo-yong) and “Gil-so-deum” (1985, by Im Kwon-taek). She won best actress awards at the Panama International Film Festival and the Grand Bell Awards.
Director Lee helmed Kim’s final leading role in “Myung-ja, Akikko, Sonia” (1992).
“Although it is God’s will and beyond human control, she was an actress who comes only once in a hundred years, and the sense of loss is immense,” Lee said. “She was a true heroine. She had a larger-than-life presence, so formidable that most men could not match her.”
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| ▲ Veteran actress Kim Ji-mi (Yonhap) |
Director Jung Ji-young, who was active during Kim’s peak in the 1980s, also remembered her as a top star.
With her sophisticated and urban image, Kim enjoyed explosive popularity during the golden age of Korean cinema in the 1960s. Her high-profile marriages and divorces — to actor Choi Mu-ryong and later to singer Na Hoon-a — also kept her constantly in the public spotlight.
“Kim Ji-mi enjoyed a golden age on par with Shin Sung-il and remained a top actress for a long time,” Jung said. “We were personally close, but unfortunately never worked together on a film.” He added, “I hope she rests in peace.”
Director Bae Chang-ho, another prominent filmmaker from the 1980s, said he never worked directly with Kim but recalled her warmth.
“When we were filming ‘Deep Blue Night’ (1985) in the United States in 1984, she was staying there at the time and treated our staff to a meal to encourage them,” Bae said. “I couldn’t attend because I was scouting locations, but I still remember her kindness as a senior.”
“She was courteous but never pretentious. I remember how simple and sincere she was in expressing herself,” he added.
Bae also recalled her work beyond acting. Kim founded the production company Jimmy Film and served as head of the Korean Film Actors Association and as a commissioner of the Korean Film Council.
“She was a diva of Korean cinema, but she was also deeply involved in social and industry activities,” Bae said. “She devoted her entire life to film.”
Kim Dong-ho, former chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, also paid tribute, recalling her wide-ranging influence.
“As head of the actors association, she had strong leadership as well as great inclusiveness,” Kim said. “By establishing her own production company and both producing and starring in films, she exerted tremendous influence on the Korean film industry.”
“Whenever she came to Korea, we met at least once. We even had lunch together two years ago,” he added. “We were close, so her passing is especially heartbreaking.”
Film industry figures also expressed deep sorrow as Kim’s death came just days after the passing of another veteran actor, Yoon Il-bong, on Sunday.
“They were actors who led the golden age of Korean cinema, and their recent passing is an enormous loss to the industry,” Kim Dong-ho said.
Bae Chang-ho added, “Both Yoon Il-bong and Kim Ji-mi were true film actors with their own unique aura. In an era when movies have become just one of many video contents alongside television, it feels as if the age of movie stars itself may be fading.”
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