"Mother of Korean Cinema" Veteran Actress Nam Jeonghee Passes Away at 84

Appeared in Over 300 Works After Debuting in "Simcheongjeon"
Outstanding Performances in Films by Im Kwontaek and Bae Changho

Veteran actress Nam Jeonghee, who has been a steadfast pillar of Korean popular culture for over half a century, gracing both the big and small screens, has passed away at the age of 84.

According to the Association of Veteran Filmmakers and her family on January 24, she had been battling health issues following spinal surgery a year ago and passed away at her home on January 22.

Nam Jeonghee made her debut in 1962 with director Lee Kran's film "Simcheongjeon," and appeared in nearly 300 works during the renaissance of Korean cinema. Although she took a brief hiatus, upon her return she was sought after by master directors for her uniquely gentle and profound acting. In particular, she portrayed the quintessential Korean mother figure in major films such as director Im Kwontaek's "Festival" (1996), "The Glass Box" (1997), and "Chunhyang" (2000), as well as director Bae Changho's "Affection" (1999), embodying the essence of Korean sentiment.

Her passion for acting remained undiminished even in her later years. She continued to meet audiences through films such as "A Werewolf Boy" (2012), "Confession of Murder" (2012), and her recent work "Brother" (2021). She was also active on television, endearing herself to viewers with her warm and familiar roles as a mother in dramas like "Sandglass" (1995) and "My Husband Got a Family" (2012). In 2011, she was recognized for her half-century-long acting career with the Special Acting Award at the 48th Grand Bell Awards.

The funeral hall has been set up at Yonsei University Severance Hospital in Sinchon. The funeral procession will take place at 8 a.m. on January 26.