More elderly actors receive spotlight on TV shows
Actor Park In-hwan practices ballet during the filming of tvN's drama, “Navillera.” Courtesy of tvN
By Dong Sun-hwa
Age is just a number. Before Youn Yuh-jung, 73, became the first Korean actress to win an Academy Award last month, older actors playing leading roles had become a trend in the Korean entertainment scene, with more senior citizens taking center stage on popular TV shows. Park In-hwan and Kim Soo-mi are among the trendsetters.
Park, 76, recently played 70-year-old retiree, Shim Deok-chul, in tvN's 12-episode drama, “Navillera.” Despite his worsening dementia, Shim does not ditch his lifelong dream of becoming a ballet dancer and, with the help of Lee Chae-rok, a 23-year-old ballet dancer played by Song Kang, he realizes his goal in the end.
Through his extraordinary acting which conveyed a message of hope ― especially for people who think they are too old to start anything new ― Park touched the hearts of viewers, many of whom said his vivid portrayal of the character was the gem of the series.
It was the first time that Park, who made his small screen debut in 1965, starred in a miniseries that usually brims with up-and-coming young actors.
“This is my first time to take on a lead role in a miniseries where actors my age usually play peripheral roles,” Park said during an online press conference, March 16. “It is such an honor and pleasure ― I was hesitant to be featured in 'Navillera' at first, because I was uncertain whether I could pull off this role. But in the end, I decided to tackle a new challenge.”
In this Feb. 18 file photo, actress Kim Soo-mi poses for photos at an online press conference for the show, “Soomi's Lodge.” Courtesy of KBS, SKY
In addition to Park, actress Kim Soo-mi, 71, has been carving out a strong presence on entertainment programs. After grabbing the attention of viewers on the cooking/variety show, “Soomi's Side Dishes,” in 2018, Kim recently came back with a new program called “Soomi's Lodge.” On the show, the veteran actress invites some celebrities to her cabin, treats them with food and talks with them. She is now one of the oldest and most sought-after female TV show hosts.
“Soomi's Lodge” has been garnering rave reviews from viewers for highlighting Kim's well-known cooking talent and her outspokenness. Many people find comfort in the messages and advice offered by the star, whose showbiz career spans more than four decades.
During an online media conference on Feb. 18, Kim said, “I will do my best to become a friend, a mother or a grandmother for anyone visiting our lodge.”
Non-celebrities are also leading the new trend. These days, a number of entertainment programs, such as JTBC's “Kgrandma” bring the spotlight to the silver generation.
“Kgrandma” features Korean grandmothers spending time with foreigners in Korea. Although they cannot communicate fluently with each other due to language barriers, they still share their stories and develop friendships over time.
“Through the program, we want to display the wisdom and tolerance of our grandmothers,” the program's chief producer said.