MOVIE
Jeonghee Yoon passes away while fighting Alzheimer's disease
According to the film industry, Yoon Jeong-hee, who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for a long time, passed away in Paris, France this afternoon. Jeong-hee Yoon, who had been suffering from Alzheimer's since 2010, is said to have lost her husband and daughter as her condition worsened several years ago. The deceased lived in Paris with her husband, pianist Baek Geon-woo (77), and daughter Baek Jin-hee.
Born in Busan in 1944, the deceased made her debut in the 1967 film ‘Youth Theater’ and enjoyed great popularity as one of the troika of Korean female movie stars in the 1960s and 70s. The year she debuted, she quickly rose to stardom by winning the Newcomer Award at the Daejong Film Festival and the Popular Actress Award at the Blue Dragon Film Festival. The following year, he also received the Baeksang Arts Awards Rookie Award for the movie ‘Fog’.
The deceased was active in acting through several works between the 1960s and 1980s. 'The General's Beard' (1968), 'Shingung' (1979), 'Mrs. Freedom '81' (1981), 'The Bird Crying in the Evening', 'Woman in Crisis' (1987), and 'Manmu Bang' (1994). It is a representative work. Director Lee Chang-dong's 'Poetry' (2010) became his retirement film. She won the Daejong Award for Best Actress for ‘Poetry’.
Yoon Jeong-hee went to France to study in France in 1974 and coincidentally reunited with Paik Geon-woo. They became lovers and got married in 1976. The deceased was so passionate about learning that he received a master's degree in film studies from the University of Paris III. The couple, Jeong-hee Yoon and Geon-woo Paik, received the Order of Merit for Culture and Arts from the French government in 2011.
The deceased also served as a judge at film festivals and had a deep love for movies. He served as a judge at the Montreal Film Festival (1995), a judge at the 12th Mumbai Film Festival (2010), and a judge at the 17th Dinard Film Festival (2006).
Paik Geon-woo reported the news of Yoon Jeong-hee's struggle with Alzheimer's through an interview in 2019. Later, in 2022, Yoon Jeong-hee's brothers filed a lawsuit against Baek Geon-woo and his daughter Jin-hee to object to their guardianship, revealing the conflict between the families. Survivors include Baek Geon-woo and Baek Jin-hee.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr
