Occasionally Sharing Life Stories, Actress Kim Soo-mi's Last Prepared Book Title is 'Annyeonghi Gyeseyo'

Son Jeong Myeong-ho and Daughter-in-law Seo Hyo-rim Share Behind-the-Scenes Stories
Advise Junior: "I've Been a Supporting Role All My Life... Hang In There"

On the 25th, actress Kim Sumi, who suddenly passed away, had titled the last book she was preparing 'Goodbye.' In this book, she also expressed her wish to do food volunteering after retirement.

On the 26th, Yonhap News met Kim Sumi's son, Jung Myungho, director of Napalggot F&B, and actress Seo Hyorim, a couple, at the funeral hall of Hanyang University Hospital. At this meeting, Director Jung said that Kim Sumi seemed to have been occasionally organizing her life recently. He said, "Mom really liked writing, and when I went home, I found quite a few manuscripts written by hand. She had already decided on the book title, which was 'Goodbye.' There was also content about wanting to do volunteer work with food after retirement."

Actor Kim Soo-mi, who suddenly passed away on the 25th
Photo by Yonhap News

During her lifetime, Kim Sumi left behind nearly twenty books. Among them are literary works such as the essay collections I Won't Say What I Miss (1987), Sometimes I Want to Run Away (1993), Sorry, I Love You (1997), That Spring, I Wanted to Become a Monk (2003), and the novel I Want to Live When I See You (1990), as well as representative cookbooks like Kim Sumi's Jeolla-do Food Stories (1998), You Can Eat Without Worrying About Gaining Weight (2003), Kim Sumi's Elegant Baby Food (2021), and Kim Sumi's Kimchi Pickles (2022).

Director Jung also said that in the book his mother was preparing, she left advice for younger actors who have not yet established themselves. He said that in her posthumous writings, she left a message to "junior actors who have not yet blossomed, saying, 'As an actor who lived as a supporting role all my life, I want to tell you this: even if you are struggling and in a slump now, if you endure in this field, you will succeed someday, so never give up halfway.'"

The wedding ceremony of actress Seo Hyo-rim and Jung Myung-ho, CEO of Napalggot F&B, held in December 2019
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Daughter-in-law Seo Hyorim revealed that her mother-in-law's real personality was a "tender mother." They were known to have a close mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. Seo Hyorim said that Kim Sumi had said, "Whenever people asked her to 'curse once,' she actually disliked it very much inside," adding, "She was such a tender mother." She added, "When I got married and even afterward, many people asked me if my mother-in-law was scary, but I used to respond, 'My mom is scarier of me (Seo Hyorim).'" Seo emphasized that contrary to her usual public image, the late actress was a sensitive person. "Recently, Mom was really stressed and struggling with work at the company. At times like that, I said to her, 'Mom, let's talk as actresses. We can't collapse like this. Even if we fall, it should be on stage.' Then Mom said, 'My heart wants to, but my body doesn't follow.'"

Seo Hyorim also said, "Everyone who came to pay their respects said things like 'It's so sudden,' 'I talked to her just yesterday,' 'We were supposed to meet in three days.' She always took care of her colleagues and juniors first, especially those who were struggling. There was no one who hadn't received food from her."

Director Jung said that his mother's last dish was braised anchovies. He said, "It was the dish she was best at, and recently I asked her to make it because I missed it, but she said, 'I can't because I'm tired,' and then made it the next day and sent it home." He added, "I was the one who ate braised anchovies the best, but Hyorim eats everything well and a lot, so Mom liked her more."