The Most Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Website

Actress Yoon Jeong Hee Dead at 79


yoon-jeong-hee-dead-at-79-iconic-movie-actresss-cause-of-death-funeral-details-confirmed-to-the-public
Credit: MBC ENTERTAINMENT/YouTube Screenshot

Actress Yoon Jeong Hee, a South Korean actress who was famous for her long list of movie projects, has died. She was 79.

Yoon Jeong Hee famously appeared in the 1960s and 1970s films decades before her passing. She had fruitful years as an actress before her notable return in the 2010 Cannes-winning flick, Poetry.

But the renowned actress recently passed away, according to several publications.

ALSO READ: Kang So Ra Diet: Here's How the Doctor Stranger Actress Lost 20kgs

Yoon Jeong Hee’s Cause of Death

The Korea Times quoted an announcement from a movie industry official who revealed that Yoon Jeong Hee died at the age of 79 (Korean age) on Thursday in Paris, France.

The same news outlet soon received an official statement from her husband, pianist Park Kun Woo.

"It is with great sadness that my wife, Yoon Jeong-hee passed away around 5 p.m. Thursday (local time). She died peacefully listening to our daughter Jin-hee playing the violin," he said, adding, “Although she is no longer here with us, please remember her kind soul and passion for film.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: NewJeans Makes It to Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart for the 1st Time With Ditto

The patriarch also confirmed that a funeral would be held privately in a Catholic church in the capital on Jan. 30. Only close family and friends will attend the Celebration of Life.

The publication added Yoon Jeong Hee’s body would be cremated, and her ashes would be interred in a grave near the catholic church.

The official statement from her husband did not confirm her cause of death. But the publication noted that she died after her long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She also suffered from diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal form of dementia as it is the sixth leading cause of death in the US alone. It is a condition that affects people’s mental ability and memory, interfering with patients’ daily lives.

Yoon Jeong Hee’s Career

The Busan native actress dominated the industry with her 1967 debut film, Sorrowful Youth. She was cast through an audition during her school days at Chosun University.

Overall, she had nearly 280 works and won over 20 awards in South Korea. Among her films included I Am Not Lonely, I Live as I Please, The First Night, Gang Myeong Hwa, A Secret Royal Inspector, The Sorrow of Separation, A Japanese, Grudge, Dreams of Sora, Good Bye Dad, Mother Is Strong, The 4th Man, Gallant Man, Embrace, Parking Lot, A Left-hander in Tokyo, A woman gambler, Night Journey, The Terms of Love, A Woman on the Verge, Flower in Snow and Manmubang.

One of the most prestigious awards she received was the Best Actress award from the Blue Dragon Film Awards for her role in Oyster Village.

Despite battling Alzheimer’s disease, she marked her return in the 2010 flick Poetry.

Her death came years after Yoon Jeong Hee’s sibling accused her husband and daughter of neglecting her amid her health issues.

The actress’s daughter, meanwhile, asked a Korean court to make her Yoon Jeong Hee’s legal guardian. She won the case in 2021, but her siblings appealed. With her death, it is expected that the case would be dismissed.

READ MORE: Kim Yoo Jung in Talks To Star in New Fantasy Rom-Com With Song Kang

Check back for more stories, updates, and rumors about Yoon Jeong Hee here at EpicStream!

For more articles like this, take a look at our K-Wave and Kdrama page.