Comedian Yoo Byung-gwon revealed the content of his last phone call with the late actress Kim Soo-mi.
On the episode of MBC's variety show 'Radio Star' aired on the 4th, themed around "Possible People," Yoo Byung-gwon, actors Ahn Jae-wook and Jung Young-joo, and NMIXX member Lili appeared to share their stories.
During the broadcast, Yoo Byung-gwon introduced himself as an SBS special-recruitment comedian who is active on YouTube as "Jack Clean," stating, "I was born by 'Star King' and raised by Teacher Kim Soo-mi."
Yoo Byung-gwon, who gained online attention for his voice imitation videos of Kim Soo-mi, debuted after appearing alongside Kim Soo-mi on the 2010 SBS variety show 'Amazing Competition Star King.'
Yoo Byung-gwon recalled, "I was told I could only appear if Teacher Kim Soo-mi joined me. Since she initially declined, I called her directly. When her manager answered, I asked, 'Do actresses usually say they are sick when they don't want to do something?'"
He added that Kim Soo-mi listened to his voice imitation and said, "Who are you?" as her first words, confirming his appearance in less than 30 seconds.
Yoo Byung-gwon shared the deep bond he had with Kim Soo-mi, saying, "After recording was finished, Teacher Kim told me to bring a contract and take me to events. I started attending stage events two days later. She contacted me again and proposed that I join her as she was starting a company. I stayed at that company for 15 years."
Yoo Byung-gwon also mentioned knowing Kim Soo-mi's kimchi recipe, stating, "We went to kimchi home shopping broadcasts together and learned how to make kimchi. We even visited the factory together."
Hearing this, MC Kim Goo-ra said in admiration, "If Jang Dong-min is her public son, Yoo Byung-gwon is her behind-the-scenes son. It's true."
Yoo Byung-gwon referred to Kim Soo-mi as his "life mentor" and shared several anecdotes.
Yoo Byung-gwon recounted, "When I was doing broadcasts or dubbing, Teacher Kim negotiated my pay on the spot. She asked, 'How much do you get?' and when I said, 'I get 500,000 won,' she told me to make a call. Then she called and said, 'This is Kim Soo-mi. Someone else gets 2 million won, so why are you only giving this person 500,000 won?' and got my pay raised."
He added, "I may not be active in broadcasting much, but I have accumulated many memories behind the scenes," mentioning that they also traveled to local areas together for fun. In response, MC Kim Goo-ra remarked, "You are almost family."
MC Kim Kook-jin asked, "Did you stay in contact until Teacher Kim Soo-mi passed away?" and Yoo Byung-gwon opened up about the content of their final conversation.
Yoo Byung-gwon said, "The deadline was approaching. I contacted her about two to three weeks prior, and she said, 'I am almost recovered, so let's meet after I am fully better. Let's see each other in about two months.' So, of course, I assumed that would happen. When I heard about it on the day of the funeral, I learned that she had been telling people around her almost the same thing. My feeling was that she had settled things with that mindset."
He expressed gratitude, saying, "It is a story I cannot tell while smiling, but she always told me, 'Don't worry about anything. When I die, things will go well for you.' I was moved to tears when 'Jack Clean' became successful. In fact, I cried a lot."
Kim Soo-mi was found in cardiac arrest at her home in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul on October 25, 2024, and was transported to a hospital but passed away at the age of 75. The cause of death was revealed to be hyperglycemic shock due to her chronic illness, diabetes.
Yoo Byung-gwon appeared on SBS's 'Amazing Competition Star King' as "Hongje-dong Kim Soo-mi," gaining attention for his voice imitation of Kim Soo-mi, and is currently loved through the character of "Jack Clean," a middle-aged woman living in Los Angeles, USA, on the YouTube channel 'House of Peace.'
in ENTERTAINMENT
