The culture ministry announced it will posthumously award the Golden Order of Cultural Merit to late actress Kim Ji-mi in recognition of her lifelong contributions to the Korean film industry. Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young plans to visit her memorial at the Seoul Film Center to confer the medal. Kim, who suffered from heart problems, died last Sunday at age 85 in Los Angeles.
The culture ministry described Kim Ji-mi as a "symbol of the film culture of an era," combining popular appeal and artistic depth, and said she played a meaningful role in Korea's film industry. "She contributed to laying the foundation of Korean film production and supporting the industry's growth, and played a practical role in protecting the Korean film ecosystem and strengthening its institutional framework," the ministry said.
Kim made her screen debut in director Kim Ki-young's 1957 film "The Twilight Train" and rose to overnight fame a year later with "The Star in My Heart" by Hong Seong-ki. She gained critical acclaim by working with Korea's leading filmmakers, such as Kim Soo-yong and Im Kwon-taek, winning multiple awards at home and abroad. Beyond her on-screen work spanning more than 700 films, she founded the production company Jimi Film and served as a member of the Korean Film Council.
In 2016, she received the Silver Order of Cultural Merit, the second-highest class. The Golden Order is the nation's top cultural decoration. A memorial space is set up at the Seoul Film Center, where the minister plans to visit later in the day.
