Grateful for Life

Kim Hye-ja (Author) | Suo Seojae

Book Introduction

Our beloved actress Kim Hye-ja’s acting and life
"Grateful for life despite everything."

Kim Hye-ja, representing Korea as an actress whom we love, has portrayed countless roles over the past 60 years, conveying life’s appearances, pains, joys, and sorrows. She has thoroughly dedicated herself to each role, believing one had to become that person completely. She counted her roles in the hundreds and hundreds, always giving her best performance with the conviction that acting was a duty to live fully until the end.

More than just a comfortable image, she is an actress who approaches each work with the most sincere and harsh self-restraint. Every time she selects a role, she considers it 'my last work' and chooses roles with standards that may seem harsh and desperate, yet which make her visible as an actress. She values selecting works that offer hope to people who are going to die.

Kim Hye-ja is a true actress who writes the records of her life with iron will and zeal: passion, gratitude, joy, and ultimately, "The Republic of Korea’s Nation’s Mom." She is a national treasure. Few know well what she is like, but reading to the very last page of “Grateful for Life” leaves one with the thought, “Kim Hye-ja is truly Kim Hye-ja,” with a full heart.

Author Information

Author: Kim Hye-ja

Kim Hye-ja, one of Korea’s representative actresses, was born in Seoul and grew up in Gyeonggi Province. She graduated from Gogeul High School and studied fine arts at Ewha Womans University. Since childhood, she dreamed of becoming an actress, and in the early days of her work, she appeared in numerous plays such as "Road" and "The Old Men’s Seminar." During her university years, she won the 17th KBS Talent Contest in 1962 and began her professional career. Despite early disappointments and setbacks, she continued acting, making her way back to her career path.

She started officially as a TV actress in 1969 after joining the MBC Skirt Theater and has since appeared in countless dramas and movies, becoming a revered and award-winning actress. She also went through rigorous training in Korean theater, acting in plays like "The Real Person," "The People’s Mountain," "Freedom Theater," and starred in “The Annals of Yeongjo," which earned critical acclaim for her performance.

Table of Contents

• By God's Grace, We Are All Actors
• To Hye-ja
• Live and Live with Strength
• Always Lived a Life Like the First Time
• Love and Be Loved, Live with Memories
• There Was Not a Single Day I Did Not Cry
• The Flower That Blooms When Loved
• My Manager
• Life Diary
• I Will Think About Tomorrow Tomorrow
• The Deepest Season in Life
• Don’t Leave So Easily
• Must Give Up Everything
• Forgiveness
• There Is No Other Answer Besides Living
• You Disappear, So It’s Beautiful
• A Person Like a Rock Sitting Alone on the Left Side
• Born Only to Be Happy
• My Love
• People Who Dream
• I Have a Plan for Faith
• Life Drama
• The Me Who Protects Myself
• Until Curtain Call

Recommendation

Bong Joon-ho (Film Director)

When I was young, I went on a long trip with Director Hye-ja by San as a guide. The nationwide shooting for the movie "Mother" took place. The production team, camera crew, and equipment were spread out, and it was a demanding schedule, but Hye-ja stayed on set to the end with dedication. I was amazed by the final completed film, a masterpiece. The producers, the director, and the crew all trusted her and did not hesitate to take her side, even under difficult circumstances. There was no doubt that the camera loved her eyes.

I want to say that she did not want to make the artificial demands of the director or engage in any fuss to catch moments. Instead, she handled natural acting calmly and deeply in front of the camera. She was the best actress, and anyone who has seen her eyes would agree with me.

Her radiant you in this book tells a clear and deep story. I hope many people can read this bright, profound tale that matches perfectly with her eyes.