Seo Hyorim Remembers Late Mother-in-Law Kim Sumi on 'Altoran'

On February 23, actress Seo Hyorim appeared as a guest on the MBN variety show Altoran, where she reflected on her late mother-in-law and fellow actress, the late Kim Sumi. During the episode, she showcased dishes she learned from Kim Sumi, including shrimp soy sauce stew and grilled fish.

Seo shared her emotional journey, stating, "I thought people would be sad every day, but for about two months, I didn’t even have the time to grieve. I had to handle my daily tasks one day at a time."

After Kim Sumi's passing, Seo received numerous offers to appear on shows related to her mother-in-law. Initially hesitant, she felt compelled to participate when the topic centered around cooking dishes she wanted to prepare for her late mother.

Having referred to Kim Sumi as 'Mom' during their time together, Seo explained, "If we had met as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from the start, there would have been some distance and discomfort. However, we first met as mother and daughter in a drama, which created a bond. After calling her 'Mom' for nearly a year in that show, it became more natural to call her that."

She fondly recalled how Kim Sumi would always bring a generous amount of side dishes when they shared meals on set, saying, "I started looking forward to Mondays just to enjoy her cooking. Some people even joked that I married her son just for the food!"

Through her relationship with Kim Sumi, Seo learned a great deal about cooking and culinary skills. "I discovered so many recipes after marrying into the family. Even the same dish tastes different when my mother-in-law makes it; she had her own special techniques," she noted, visiting their favorite market in Namdaemun, Seoul, where she was overcome with emotion at the memories. The shop owners also expressed their nostalgia, sharing tears with her.

Seo's husband, Jung Myung-ho, who is also Kim Sumi's son, was moved by her cooking, stating, "The flavors are very similar. Just like there are prodigies in singing and dancing, I think there are culinary prodigies too. I honestly thought I wouldn’t taste that flavor again, but she did well. It makes her even more beautiful to see her cook so well. I believe my mom would have loved tasting her dishes."