The South Korean entertainment community mourns with Ji Seok-jin the passing of his mother, Kim I-ja, who passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on the morning of December 24.
The funeral took place at Seoul Asan Hospital, Hall 2, with the casket ceremony taking place at 11am on December 25 and the farewell service scheduled for 5.20am on December 26. Burial will be at Seoul Memorial Park – Icheon Eden Paradise.
Even a day after the news broke, colleagues and friends from the entertainment industry continued to visit the funeral to pay their respects. Among them, longtime collaborators Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Jong-kook personally attended, silently offering their condolences. Their presence highlighted the deep bonds and respect shared between these entertainment veterans.
Other notable figures who sent flowers or messages of sympathy included MCs, comedians Kim Dae-hee, Nam Hee-seok, Ryu Dam, Im Ha-ryong and Kwon Young-chan, entertainers Kim Ji-sun, Lee Hong-ryul, Oh Jae-mi, Kim Young-chul, PD Kim Tae-ho, and celebrities such as Kim Gu-ra, Seo Kyung-seok, Jessun and Hong Hyun-hee, Lee Sung-min, Hwang Jung-min, Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Kwang-soo, Han Ji-min, Lee Jong-hyuk, Lee Hyun-do, Apink’s Yoon Bo-mi, Lee Seung-gi, DinDin and God’s Park Jun-hyung.
This loss came at a poignant time in Ji Seok-jin’s career. A few days earlier, on December 21, he received his first Grand Prize at the 3rd Pinggye Awards, marking over three decades of dedication to broadcasting. During his acceptance speech, he reflected, “If you hang on and persist, good days will come,” a sentiment that resonated with many.
The death of the mother, which occurred only three days later, contrasts the joy of professional success with the private pain of losing a parent. Ji Seok-jin remained by his family’s side, calmly greeting them out of the camera’s view.
Ji Seok-jin continues to connect with audiences through SBS’ Running Man, tvN’s Sixth Sense: City Tour 2 and his YouTube channel “Ji’s Comodo Mondo”, maintaining a beloved presence in Korean entertainment.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
