Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja, 85, has appeared smiling brightly in new photos shared by broadcaster Jaeae, her first public images since canceling a stage greeting for her comeback film “Still Radiant” amid lingering health concerns.
According to MHN, Jaeae posted two photos on October 15 with the caption, “Teacher Hye-ja tells me I’m doing well,” showing her posing warmly with Kim and co-stars Park Seo-hyung and Choi Ju-eun. MHN notes the images drew extra attention as the first photos since the health scare began.
Kim had been scheduled to greet audiences at Megabox COEX in Seoul on October 15, but the appearance was called off. Director Song Il-gon explained, “The teacher was unavoidably unable to attend due to a cold.” Concern first flared at the October 6 opening of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, where video showed her walking with the director’s support and coughing repeatedly. A film representative at the time dismissed it as “just a cold” with no health issue.
Kim also released a handwritten letter through the production company, Page One Film, on why she chose the project: “We must remember how much those children suffered. But I also hope we don’t forget how beautifully they wanted to live.”
“Still Radiant” opens October 21. The film follows Soon-ok, played by Kim, reuniting with a best friend after 60 years — her first screen role in nine years since 2017’s “The Road Home.” The bright photos are likely to ease fan concerns ahead of the release.