The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Mon, August 15, 2022 | 09:18
Veteran Actress Do Passes Away
Posted : 2009-06-07 13:19
Updated : 2009-06-07 13:19
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

Veteran movie star Do Kum-bong
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Veteran movie star Do Kum-bong passed away last Wednesday. She was 79.

Her death was later known as the actress insisted not to inform the world of her death in her will.

Born in 1930 at Incheon, Do started her acting career through a theater club called ``Changgong'' and made her movie debut when she was chosen by director Jo Keung-ha in 1957 for the main role of the film ``Hwang Jin-i.''

Do nailed the femme fatale character flawlessly, becoming the talk of the town and earning the nickname, ``the temptress of the century.''

She later appeared in Korea's first horror movie ``A Bloodthirsty Killer'' (1965) by director Lee Yong-min's as the villain, and proved once again her wide-ranging acting skills. Thanks to the ``Killer''s success, Do continued to star in following horror films, including ``A Neckless Beauty,'' ``A Public Cemetery of Wol-ha'' (1967) and ``The Magical Sword of Skeletal Spirit''(1969).

Despite her reputation of acting sexy and evil characters, Do still managed to pull off more serious roles, like in the movie ``Yu Gwan-sun'' (1959), which touched the story of the young independence fighter during the Japanese colonial rule.

Do's popularity especially bloomed during the 1960s and the '70s, winning the Best Actress award at the Daejong Film Festival for her role in the film ``New Wife'' in 1963 and also the Best Supporting Actress for ``When a Little Dream Blooms'' in 1972 and ``The Earth'' in 1974.

She continued to work on more than 500 films until she finished her acting career in 1997 with Park Chan-wook's movie ``Threesome.''

As if having a successful career as a movie actress was not enough, the glamorous Do also made headlines for gossip concerning her love life, but she was always confident and was more than eager to express her opinions about the sensational news and public's eye.

After retiring from her acting career, she was known to have run a restaurant in Samcheong-dong with her two sons, but disappeared from the public eye after she stopped her business 10 years ago.

The actress was later sent to a welfare facility, and according to her son, she was hospitalized 10 days before she passed away.

``She wanted her death not to be publicized, and so we tried to follow her wishes as much as possible,'' he said.

Do was cremated and her remains were moved to a charnel house in Heukseok-dong, Seoul.

``She was a brave woman, who was given many villain roles, but still managed to act many righteous and strong characters as well. In other words, she was a great actress who had a wide range. I remember her as a memorable supporting role, as sometimes her charisma was far more greater than the leading characters,'' said professor Jung Jae-hyung at the department of Film and Digital Media, Dongguk University.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
 
LG
  • Korean blockchain operators urged to enhance vigilance against accidents
  • Yoon set to unveil 'audacious plan' for North Korea's denuclearization
  • City goes into festival mode during Seoul Festa
  • More tourists opt to visit Jeju Island by ferry
  • Fears of lengthy COVID-19 resurgence loom large
  • Traveling on the Han River in the 19th Century: Part 2
  • Seoul E-Prix thrills racing fans in Korea
  • Will Samsung heir be promoted to chairman?
  • Ex-USFK commander rejects China's claims over THAAD
  • KOICA seeks support for Busan's bid to host World Expo
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions
    • Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions
    • Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man
    • From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month
    • [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group