The diary of Kim Soo-mi, known as "the eternal national mother," who passed away two weeks ago, has been revealed detailing her health issues.
On the 25th, the TV CHOSUN program "Dad and Me" aired previously undisclosed stories of Kim Soo-mi, who died last October at the age of 75. The heartfelt stories from people who miss Kim Soo-mi, including her daughter-in-law Seo Hyo-rim, son Jeong Myeong-ho, and long-time friends Kim Yeong-ok and Lu Ching Lai, brought viewers to tears. In the studio, Jeon Hyun-moo, Lee Seung-yeon, Subin, Lee Geon-joo, Yeogyeong-rae, and Jang Gwang reminisced about Kim Soo-mi.
Jeong Myeong-ho, Kim Soo-mi's son who quietly handled his mother's funeral, said, "After the burial, I sat at home, and I couldn't stop crying. I've never cried like that in my life," evoking sympathy. He expressed his feelings, stating, "She was my mom, but sometimes she felt like my dad, and she was everything to me." Jeong Myeong-ho, who received a call from his dad after Kim Soo-mi's passing, recounted, "I picked her up from beside the bed to move her to the bed, and her body was so cold. The paramedics said it seemed to have been several hours since she had a cardiac arrest," confessing his feelings upon witnessing his mother's death.
A text message sent by actress Kim Hye-ja to Kim Soo-mi's phone after her passing moved many to tears. In her texts, Kim Hye-ja wrote, "Soo-mi, where are you?", "I miss you, Soo-mi," and "Talk to me." Seo Hyo-rim replied on behalf of Kim Soo-mi, saying, "I arrived in heaven safely, and now I'm at peace." Kim Hye-ja texted back, "I'm so glad you made it to heaven," and "Goodbye, Soo-mi, let's meet again next time," stirring deep emotions. Seo Hyo-rim noted, "She wanted to talk like this," empathizing with the many who have yet to let go of Kim Soo-mi.
Kim Yeong-ok, who shared the same first name as Kim Soo-mi and lived like a sister during her lifetime, visited the home of Seo Hyo-rim and Jeong Myeong-ho. Kim Yeong-ok expressed deep regret while mentioning the last conversation she had with Kim Soo-mi. She recalled that during a phone call last year when Kim Soo-mi was hospitalized due to deteriorating health, Kim Soo-mi had said, "I'm fine now. I've recovered," which gave her the impression that her health was okay, but..." her words trailed off. Seo Hyo-rim remembered, "I received a call from my husband at 7:30 a.m. and was angry, thinking, 'What nonsense is this?'" recalling the moment she first heard the news of Kim Soo-mi's passing. Kim Yeong-ok lamented, "I thought it was fake news."
On this day's broadcast, the original diary of Kim Soo-mi was revealed for the first time. The diary, which she consistently wrote for over 60 years since first coming to Seoul at age 16 until just before her passing last year, is filled with her endless love for her son Jeong Myeong-ho, memories with her close friend Kim Yeong-ok, and resolutions to maintain good health. In particular, the last entry, written two weeks before her passing, detailed health warning signs, noting, "My pronunciation is strange, I spill food when I eat, and my hands tremble," which added to the sorrow.
Next week, actress Park Han-byeol, who paused her activities in the entertainment industry due to a scandal involving her husband, will share her difficult memories with her father, who has silently supported her. The strained father-son story involving celebrity chef Lu Ching Lai and his son, chef Yeomin, will also be revealed. The heartfelt family variety show, TV CHOSUN's "Dad and Me," airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m.
[Photo] 'Dad and Me'
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