Kim Soo-mi's Final Work is the Musical 'Chinjeong Eomma'... "Payment Delayed"

Unpaid Wages Amounting to 400 Million Won... Preparing Lawsuit for the Deceased

Actor Kim Soo-mi [Photo by Yonhap News]

Actress Kim Sumi was transported to Seoul St. Mary's Hospital on the morning of the 25th due to cardiac arrest but passed away. According to the police, there are no signs of foul play, and the death is presumed to be due to an underlying illness. She was 75 years old. Her final work was the musical 'Chinjeong Eomma' (Mother's Home). She had a special affection for the production, having consistently performed on stage for the past 14 years, but was distressed by issues related to unpaid wages.

Kim Sumi performed as the lead character Bongran in the musical 'Chinjeong Eomma,' which was held at the KEPCO Art Center in Seoul until May 26. After the performance, on the 31st of the same month, she was diagnosed with fatigue accumulation and was admitted to Hanyang University Hospital in Seongdong-gu, Seoul for rest.

'Chinjeong Eomma' was a production to which Kim Sumi showed particular attachment during her lifetime. The work depicts the story of Bongran, a tomboyish young woman who, as time passes, becomes a mother and experiences conflicts and joys with her daughter. Since its premiere in 2010, she never missed performing as Bongran for 14 years. At the press call for 'Chinjeong Eomma' held last April, she expressed her affection by saying, "Chinjeong Eomma, along with 'Jeonwon Ilgi,' is a work I want to take to my grave." She also said, "It felt like a work my late mother sent to me through the writer."

A scene from the musical 'Chinjeong Eomma'
[Photo by Suki Company]

Although Kim Sumi devoted herself to the stage for a long time, the production company became embroiled in plagiarism controversies, making the ending regrettable. 'Chinjeong Eomma' is suspected of unauthorized use of parts of the play 'Chinjeong Eomma,' which premiered in 2007. It is known that not only Kim Sumi and other main cast members but also staff involved in stage, sound, lighting, and props did not receive their wages. Her son, Jung Myungho, director of Napalggot F&B, told Yonhap News, "My mother had not received her performance fees since last year," and revealed that she was preparing a lawsuit before her death. According to the 'Chinjeong Eomma Unpaid Wage Victims Association,' the amount of unpaid wages is reported to reach 400 million won. The production company's representative is currently unreachable.