Government to Posthumously Award Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit to Late Actress Kim Ji-mi

Third Order of Cultural Merit Following Bogwan and Eungwan Honors

On December 14, the government announced that the late actress Kim Ji-mi, who passed away on the 7th, will be posthumously awarded the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit.

Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, plans to confer the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit on the late Kim Ji-mi on behalf of the government at 2 p.m. that day.

The Order of Cultural Merit is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of culture and the arts, and to enhancing public enjoyment of culture. This Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit marks the third order conferred on the late Kim Ji-mi, in recognition of her long-standing contributions to the advancement of Korea's popular culture industry. Previously, she was posthumously awarded the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (3rd Class) in 1997 and the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit (2nd Class) in 2016.

Kim Jimi attending the press conference for the special exhibition "The Enchanting Actress, Kim Jimi" celebrating her 60th debut anniversary, held on the afternoon of the 29th last month at the Korean Film Archive in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Since her debut in 1957 with the film "Twilight Train," Kim Ji-mi starred in numerous works such as "3 O'Clock on a Rainy Day," "Land," "Promise," and "Gilsotteum," leading the growth of Korean cinema. Notably, even during times when female-centered narratives were limited, she took on a wide range of roles, broadening the representation of women in Korean films. She received multiple Best Actress awards at major domestic film festivals, including the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards, and Baeksang Arts Awards, and is regarded as an actress who symbolized the era’s film culture by combining both popularity and artistry.

In addition to her acting career, she founded Jimi Film Co., Ltd. and worked as a producer, contributing to the expansion of the film production base and the development of the industry. She also served as Chairperson of the Korean Film Actors Association, Co-Chair of the Emergency Committee for the Protection of Screen Quotas, and a member of the Korean Film Council, playing a substantial role in protecting the Korean film ecosystem and strengthening its institutional foundations. In recognition of these achievements, she was elected as a member of the National Academy of Arts in 2015, the highest honor for artists in Korea, and contributed to the advancement of Korean film arts as a senior figure in the industry.