Remembering Yoon Jeong-hee: Two Years Since Her Passing
It has been two years since the passing of the beloved actress Yoon Jeong-hee, who left us on January 19, 2023, in Paris, France, at the age of 79. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2017, she had been living in Paris with her husband, pianist Baek Gun-woo, and their daughter. On the day of her death, Baek Gun-woo shared the news via an email titled 'Actress Yoon Jeong-hee's Passing,' stating, 'My wife, who has been cherished by the public for many years, peacefully left this world at 5 PM while listening to our daughter Jin-hee's violin.' He also mentioned that, in accordance with Yoon Jeong-hee's wishes, her funeral would be held quietly in Paris with family. Yoon Jeong-hee made her debut in 1967 with the film 'Youth Theater,' overcoming fierce competition with odds of 1,200 to 1. Throughout her career, she appeared in approximately 330 films, including notable titles such as 'Kang Myung-hwa,' 'Fog,' 'The Japanese,' 'The Great Man Im Kkeokjeong,' 'Night Walk,' 'Bunregi,' 'First Experience,' and 'Seokhwa Village.' Her final film was 'Poetry' (시) directed by Lee Chang-dong in 2010. Yoon Jeong-hee's portrayal of Mi-ja, a character embodying both resilience and youthful innocence, earned her numerous accolades, including Best Actress awards at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. She also had the honor of walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival.