@Grace made a comment in the Happy Mother’s Day thread that gave me pause.
Actually I have to say this mother of all korean female lead daughters, Kim Mi-Kyung! She is the mother of Dr.Cha, Crash Course in Romance, Hi Bye Mama (again!), 18 Again, a lot of Park MinYoung’s dramas and more.
Although I didn’t recognize the name, Kim Mi-Kyung, and I haven’t watched “Dr. Cha,” “Crash Course in Romance,” “Hi Bye Mama,” “18 Again,” and many of Park MinYoung’s dramas, I knew who @Grace was talking about.
This lady.
source: mydramalist
And I agree. Whenever I see her face onscreen, I can feel at ease knowing that her character isn’t most likely going to be the secret villainess, back-stabber, or frenemy in the story. She was also in “The Heirs,” “Healer,” and “Welcome to Wedding Hell.”
Thanks to @Grace, I began thinking of the other ahjummas I’ve become familiar with in kdramas. Not many are as trustworthy as Kim MiKyung. And oddly enough, their last names are Kims.
1. Kim Young-Ok
source: wikipedia
She’s more of a halmeoni (or grandmother) than an ahjumma, though.
She gives a different vibe from Kim Mi-Young. When I see her in a drama, I wonder how her character’s death is written in the script, and how her death will serve as catalyst for the protagonist. She was in “Reply 1988” (she died), in “The King: Eternal Monarch” (can’t remember if she died on Lee MinHo but she was pretty old), “Jirisan” (didn’t she die?), and “May I Help You (she definitely died).
It must be terribly depressing having to play a character at death’s door, especially given her age.
2. Kim Hae-Sook
She’s another one that I see often in kdramas, but in my opinion, she plays characters with dubious principles and tastes.
I found her overbearing in “Hospital Playlist” series. She played her pity card once too often. She bullied that kind old man (played by my fave, Kim Gab Soo) who was her childhood friend. But her worst mistake was approving the match between her son and that Maggoty girl. lol.
Then in “Start-Up,” she fell for that “Good Boy.”
Hmph! There’s really no accounting for taste.
Wasn’t she a villainess in “Under the Queen’s Umbrella”?
3. Kim Sun-Young
source: mydramalist
I first saw her in “Reply 1988.” I found her character relatable because she was the only mom who couldn’t cook very well, e.g., over-salted her dishes, and left bits of eggshell in the omelets.
After “When the Camellia Blooms” and “Crash Landing on You,” I expect to see the ridiculous in her characters. I like how her character can look unassuming, then say or do something hysterical. The actress has excellent timing so she can be scene-stealer.
So these are the four motherly Kims.
Kim Mi-Kyung
Kim Young-Ok
Kim Hae-Sook
Kim Sun-Young
Let’s remember their names. Although they played secondary and peripheral characters in the aforementioned dramas, their roles gave flesh, added depth, and brought the best in the main characters.
Kinda like the real mothers in our lives. 🙂
AAaaah, crazy, you took this screenshot from Kim Young-Ok.
I used it in a scene. Here (don’t read the whole thing):
https://w4worlds.fr/html/W_Saison2_Script15_US.html#17
About Kim Mi-Kyung and Kim Sun-Yung.. gosh, I saw hers in so many dramas.
Kim Mi-Kyung, should I say “ajumma?”, Healer ?
Kim Sun-Yung in Backstreet Rookie as the WORST wife ever. Great fun.
Good actress in secondary roles, helping any drama to be better.
I really enjoyed Kim Mi Kyung in Healer, and that inspired me to be ‘Ahjumma’ online, although I am far from computer prowess and hacking anything, LOL. Yes, all the Ahjummas and Ajusshis are so necessary for the dramas. I’ve been noticing their lack of presence lately (in Chinese shows too!), but am glad to see that in Bora! Deborah which had no one of parental generation showing up before, finally had parents turn up in Episode 12.
Thanks @pkml3!
All the iconic mothers! 🙂
Kim Mi-kyung deserve a mention because we all have seen her one too many times. Her list on dramalist is too long to even mention.
Ooo, all Kims! I have to say Kim Sun Young roles have always been very diverse and unique, seeing her on screen is like seeing a familiar friend yet adds so much interest in the story. I can still remember her character in the dramas you have mentioned…and Crash course in Romance too.
Now that so many has talked about Healer, it has gone up on my list of dramas to watch!
Thank you, @packmule3. It’s nice to have a post celebrating these actors playing ahjummas integral to many kdrama plots. What a coincidence that they are all named Kim!
I too remember fondly Kim Mi Kyung in Healer, especially her bond with the reclusive Healer. Her role in Crash Course in Romance was short but memorable, being the reason for the ML’s soft corner for the FL’s cooking.
Kim Young-Ok really dies in many dramas, she died in ‘Hometown Cha Cha Cha’ too, though she didn’t die in ‘King-the Eternal Monarch’ from what I remember. She was in on the whole plot though, and was great at keeping the secret.
I don’t think I’ve seen Kim Hae-Sook in any drama yet, though I remember Kim Sun-Young from Crash Landing on You and the over-ambitious influencer mother in the recent Crash Course in Romance.
Kim Sun-Young is very versatile and can play good, bad or just plain eccentric. Thank you for this list of Kim mothers, @packmule3.
@Grace, I was persuaded to watch Healer by another poster here a couple of years ago and it has become a real favourite. There’s drama, humour and love in good proportions.
@fern, after seeing Healer being mentioned over and over again, I really should start it soon!
@packmule3, this is one ofmy favorite all time BOD threads. These mother roles provide lots ofco.or and depth to these dramas.i agree that Kim Hae-Soekbelongs Ina different n tgroup-moolder Illidan. villian.i am thinking of Under The Queen’s Umbrella. She is best viewed as the Machievellian dosages queen who is forever power hungry.the others are all supportive.i think that K Dramas dohave far better representation for older actors. Kim Young-ok canbe seen riding on a tractor throughout. She was quite upbeat. Other actors of age who were not Kim’s but quite faithfully i,iar and famous included another Kim, KimHye-ja Ina devastating role as a person with dimensia; Park won-sook who was a gla Kurt senior; younYubph-jung as a person of wealth;and Nam Moon-hee and a host of ahjussis who also provided senior romance.i hope that BODers have a chance to watch these wonderful actors in this drama.