NEWS UPDATE: Kim Soo Mi's son Jeong Myeong-ho, told ABC News that she had died from hyperglycemic shock — a critical state triggered by extremely high blood sugar levels, in this case higher than 500.
Sports TV reported Jeong said police later investigating her death had determined that outside influences — particularly stress — could have played a role in her state.
He explained that she was suffering massive anxiety over unpaid appearance fees from the musical "My Mother's Home," running for 14 years, in which Kim had starred. The production company was sued for plagiarizing, and Kim hasn't received any payment since last year.
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Legendary South Korean actress Kim Soo Mi passed away at the age of 75 on the morning of October 25.
According to Maeil Business Newspaper, Kim was taken to Seoul St. Mary Hospital in the district of Seocho at around 8 a.m. while suffering from cardiac arrest but was declared dead on arrival a short time later, according to the Seocho Police Station in Seoul.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
Kim, a 1949-born singer and actress who came into the entertainment world in 1970, was well-known as an actor through the television series The Country Diary, Dr. Oh's People, and Hello, Francesca.
She later starred in movies such as The Great Legacy, Barefoot Gibong, and The Glory of the Family.
More recently, she appeared on the tvN Story entertainment show The Chairman's People.
Kim was also put on a temporary break from her professional activities in May 2024, when she was admitted to Hanyang University Hospital in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, for fatigue accumulation.
Following an appearance on a home shopping channel in which she sounded rather hoarse, concerns were raised by viewers about her health.
A bit later, Kim's and director of Morning Flower F&B Chung Myung-ho said that Kim was not in a good condition because he stayed awake all the night before shooting.
Kim's death has sent shockwaves through the South Korean entertainment industry, in which her work will be dearly missed to fans and colleagues.
