[Sports Chosun Online, Reporter Kim Soo-hyun] The “nation’s mother,” Kim Ji-young, marks the 8th anniversary of her death.
In 2017, Kim Ji-young passed away at the age of 79. She was always with the viewers through her warm motherly roles and her friendly dialect.
Debuting in the 1960 film “The Heiress,” Kim Ji-young actively participated in both films and dramas. She was especially loved for her role in “The Country Diary,” and appeared in countless works like “500 Years of Chosun Dynasty,” “Piano,” “Full House,” “Toji,” and “Six Children,” gaining recognition for her unique acting style.
At the time, the late actress’s daughter shared in a phone interview with Sports Chosun, “Mom was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer two years ago. Despite undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, she remained positive and continued her acting career without letting fellow actors or acquaintances know about her illness.”
However, she further revealed, “A year after the surgery, the cancer progressed to stage 3 and spread to most of her organs. It had almost reached her brain, leaving us with no options.”
The grieving daughter said, “Mom, who was determined to recover and act again this year, showed significant improvement 40 days ago, but suddenly her health declined due to acute pneumonia and she left us today.”
At that time, Kim Ji-young was actively appearing in dramas like “Make a Woman Cry” and “Fantastic” and was preparing for her next project, making her passing even more tragic.
The daughter also expressed, “Although the family was preparing mentally for her end after the terminal diagnosis, her improvement 40 days ago gave us hope, leaving us unprepared emotionally for her passing.”