Actor the late Choi Jin-sil passed away 17 years ago.
Choi Jin-sil ended her life at age 40 on Oct. 2, 2008, at her home. The sudden tragic news shocked and saddened the entire nation beyond the entertainment industry.
"From national actress to original rom-com queen"
1968-born Choi Jin-sil debuted as a commercial model in 1988 and began acting with the drama "Joseon Dynasty 500 Years—Hanjungrok." After that, she left numerous hits such as "Jealousy", "Stars in My Heart", "You and I", and "Roses and Bean Sprouts", earning the nicknames "national actress" and "everyone's lover." She also succeeded at the box office with films such as "My Love, My Bride", "Letter", and "Ghost Mom", solidifying her status as the "original rom-com queen."
She swept awards including the Grand Bell Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards and the acting awards from the three major broadcasters, leaving numerous award records. In particular, the moment she grabbed the grand prize at the 1997 MBC Drama Awards is still talked about.
Love, wounds and comeback
She married the late baseball player Cho Sung-min in 2000 and had a son, Hwan-hee, and a daughter, Jun-hee, but the 2004 divorce left deep wounds in the family. However, she rose again. She made a dazzling return with KBS2's "Rose-Colored Life" in 2005 and MBC's "My Last Scandal" in 2008, receiving praise of "as expected, Choi Jin-sil."
But that fall, she suddenly left her fans. The suicide note revealing loneliness with lines such as "I am bullied, I am alone" caused a great shock to society and showed how much loneliness she had to bear.
A name that still lives on
Even 17 years later, Choi Jin-sil remains in the memories of many. Major portals and broadcasters are rerunning her representative works to continue the memories, and online there are fan posts saying "I still miss her" and "I recall Choi Jin-sil's smile."
The whereabouts of her bereaved family are also occasionally reported. Her son Choi Hwan-hee is active as rapper "G Flat" and continues his musical path, and her daughter Jun-hee shares updates on social media and communicates with fans. In particular, on the day before the 17th anniversary, on the 1st, Choi Jun-hee posted on her social media along with photos from a visit to the grave saying "Sorry I can't come often because the daughter is too busy. The weather is as nice as that day today!!!! I must be happy that I came. I'm leaving my overflowing love for mom by myself," expressing her longing for the deceased.
"A beloved name, an unforgettable star"
A daughter to someone, a mother to someone, and an actor who represented an era. Choi Jin-sil is no longer in this world, but her name remains like an unforgettable star in the hearts of the public.
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