Kim Young-ok (; born January 6, 1938) is a South Korean actress who debuted in 1957. She is known as South Korea's "National Grandma" for her many portrayals of grandmothers in film and television.
Career
In 1959, Kim joined the Chuncheon Broadcasting Station as an announcer through open recruitment. In 1960, She re-entered the CBS Christian Broadcasting Company as a voice actor for the 6th term. A year later, in 1961, she officially debuted as a voice actor for the 1st round of MBC Cultural Broadcasting, and in 1969 appeared in MBC TV drama for the first time.
Kim Young-ok is one of Korea's representative actors who has been active without a hiatus since her debut. Currently, she is the oldest active actress in Korea.
In August 2025, Kim launched a YouTube channel, which began with a video of her doing an internet challenge, and another announcing a fan signing event.
Filmography
Film Year Title RoleNotes 1957 Farewell Sorrow! 1958 Open the Door to a Pure Heart 1959 Bear Even the Clouds Are Drifting 1961 A Shoeshine Boy 1963 The Mistress 1966 Have Cake and Eat It, Too 1967 Flame in the Valley 1968 A Young Bride A Young Zelkova 1970 Mi-ae 1980 Man-suk, Run! 1986 No Woman Is Afraid of the Night Housekeeper 1987 The Chef of 8 Provinces Mokpo chef 1988 Puppy Love 1990 Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day Nanny The Lovers of Woomook-baemi Il-do's mother 1999 White Valentine Flower shop lady2003 Spring Breeze Seon-guk's mother A Man Who Has Been Revealed Middle-aged woman 2004 Springtime Jae-il's grandmother 2006 Old Miss Diary: The Movie Young-ok2007 Big Bang Yang Chul-gon's mother Soo Police officer Seo's grandmotherCameo2008 Public Enemy Returns Kang Chul-joong's mother Our School's E.T. Chun Sung-geun's mother 2010 Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle Yeo-sang's mother 2011 Sunny Im Na-mi's grandmother 2012 Spring, Snow Mother 2013 Fists of Legend Mother-in-law2015 Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies Chairwoman Yeon Granny's Got Talent Grandmother shamanCameo Makgeolli Girls Bean Sprouts Gong Na-mul's motherCameo 2017 Snowy Road Choi Jong-boon (adult) 2021 Nothing Serious Ja-young's grandmother2022Take Care of MomLead Role 2024 Picnic Geum-soon
Television series Year Title RoleNotes1978 Master I Sell Happiness 1981 Se-ah 1985 The Seaside Village 1986 Love and Ambition Hae-young's aunt1988 Forget Tomorrow Teacher, Our Teacher The Last Idol 1989 Wang Rung's Kin Flowering Nest Carousel Armband 1990 That Woman My Mother 1991 Yesterday's Green Grass 1993 Long Time Ago When I Was Young Wild Chrysanthemum To Live 3rd Republic , Park Chung Hee's mother Sergeant Oh MBC Best Theater:"Sundal, Byeonggu, and Okju" Ms. Yeo1994 MBC Best Theater:"Street Sign Buddha" Abandoned grandmother The Woman in the Matchbox 1995 The Road Mrs. Song Another Beginning 1996 Wealthy Yu-chun The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World Sang Joo-daek Until We Can Love The Scent of Winter 1997 Golden Feather The Reason I Live Kim Sook-hee Beautiful Crime Bridal Room 1998 A Bird's Gift Maternal grandmother Love is All I Know Please Find My Dad You and My Song 2000 Wang Rung's Land Oh Ran Ajumma Sam-sook's maternal grandmother2001 Wonderful Days Grandmother Morning Without Parting Kim Kyung-hee2002 Successful Story of a Bright Girl Cha Yang-soon's grandmother Since We Met Kang Min-seok's grandmother Solitude Kim Il-soon The Maengs' Golden Era Han Eul-soon2003 Yellow Handkerchief Grandmother Son Bodyguard Na-young's maternal grandmother Pearl Necklace Kim Ki-nam's grandmother2004 More Beautiful Than a Flower Woo-sik's grandmother Tropical Nights in December Hospice patientCameo Old Miss Diary Young-ok Toji, the Land Gan-nan's grandmother2005 Take My Hand Bizarre Bunch Seo Mal-ja Let's Marry Jung Jae-won's grandmother2006 Special of My Life Jung Hyung-seok's mother Snow Flower Lee Kang-ae's mother Miracle Jang Young-chul's mother2007 Dal-ja's Spring Lee Kkeut-soon Crazy in Love Han Bok-ja Coffee Prince Choi Han-kyul's grandmother Fly High Jo Ok-young Likeable or Not Mrs. Choi New Heart 2008 Aster Ulgeum woman Chil-woo the Mighty Woman from Mungdung Family's Honor Yoon Sam-wol2009 Glory of Youth Bae Yong-jin's mother Boys Over Flowers Head maid Partner Go Myung-jaCameo (Episode 9) Children of Heaven Jolly Widows Park Jung-nyeo Assorted Gems Kyul Myung-jaTelevision show Master of Study Lee Boon-yi The Slave Hunters Hwang Chul-woong's mother Gloria Oh Soon-nyeo All My Love For You Kim Young-ok2011 Paradise Ranch My Bittersweet Life Choi Jung-ok Bravo, My Love! Nam Da-reum's grandmotherCameo Protect the Boss Mrs. Song Just Like Today Oh Gap-boon Brain Sa Bong-jaCameo Saving Mrs. Go Bong-shil Kim Geum-shil2012 The Strongest K-Pop Survival Kwon Ji-woo's grandmother Love, My Love Lee Geum-nyeo Standby Young-ok, Park Joon-geum's motherCameo Lovers of Haeundae Shim Mal-nyun My Lover, Madame Butterfly Yoo Geum-dan Here Comes Mr. Oh Chun Geum-soon2013 Ruby Ring Jo Il-soon KBS Drama Special:"Yeon-woo's Summer" Lee Yeon-woo's grandmother2014 Beyond the Clouds Hong Soon-ok Make Your Wish Chairman Choi Marriage, Not Dating Noh Geum-soon Rosy Lovers Jo Bang-shil Birth of a Beauty Lee Kang-joon's grandmother2015 KBS Drama Special:"Snowy Road" older Choi Jong-boon The Return of Hwang Geum-bok Wang Yeo-saReply 1988Duk Seon's grandmother All About My Mom Song Ki-nam2016 Dear My Friends Oh Ssang-boon Blow Breeze Dal-rae Shopping King Louie Choi Il-soon Listen to Love Cameo Sweet Stranger and Me Grandma Oh RyeCameo (Episode 7)2017 Sisters-in-Law Kang Hae-SoonManhole (voice only) Live Up to Your Name Kkot-boon The Most Beautiful Goodbye Grandma2018 Welcome to Waikiki Jang-gun's grandmaCameo (Episode 4) Tempted Grandma The Rich Son Park Sun-ok Ms. Hammurabi O-reum's grandma Witch's Love Maeng Ye-soon KBS Drama Special:"My Mother's Third Marriage" Bang Cho-rong My Strange Hero Lee Sun-hye 2019 The Light in Your Eyes Lee Joon-ha's grandmother Her Private Life Deok-Mi's grandmother The Golden Garden Kang Nam-doo Love with Flaws Chairwoman Han 2020 The King: Eternal Monarch Noh Ok-nam2021Mouse Grandmother who lives alone with Oh Bong-i Jirisan Lee Moon-ok Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha Kim Gam-ri 2021–2022 Young Lady and Gentleman Jin Dal-rae2022 Bravo, My Life Seo Dong-hee's grandmother Cameo Tomorrow Lee Jeong-moon Cameo (Episode 13) The Law Cafe Wol-seon Cameo 2022–2023 Vengeance of the Bride Park Yong-ja 2023King the LandCha Soon-hee2024The Midnight StudioSo Geum-soonIron Family Ahn Gil-ryeThe Judge from HellOh Mi-ja
Web series Year Title RoleNotes 2019–2021 Love Alarm Jo-jo's grandmother Season 1–2 2021 Squid Game Seong Gi-hun's mother 2022 Pachinko older Bokhee 2023 Not Others 2026Our Sticky LoveGo Young-Hong (Tae-ha's grandmother) Year Title Role 2013 Mamado ("Mama, Too") Cast member2016 Tribe of Hip HopParticipant 2022 Attack on Grandma Host Hot Singers Cast member Prefabricated Family Host Music videos Year Title Artist 2026 "Dear my crazy soulmate" IU Voice acting Year Title Role 1975 Mazinger Z Soe-dol ("Juzo Kabuto") 1976 Robot Taekwon V Kim Hoon 1977 Paul's Miraculous Adventure Paul 1987 Esteban, a Boy from the Sun Esteban
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1979 15th Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) for Television I Sell Happiness 1992 28th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actress (TV) Yesterday's Green Grass 1993 KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Wild Chrysanthemum, Love and Farewell 2005 KBS Entertainment Awards Achievement Award Old Miss Diary 2007 44th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress Old Miss Diary: The Movie 2009 MBC Drama Awards Golden Acting Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Assorted Gems 2011 SBS Drama Awards Achievement Award Protect the Boss 2015 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Snowy Road 201811th Korea Drama Awards Lifetime Achievement AwardKim Young-ok2016Scene Stealer Festival2024 SBS Drama AwardsThe Judge from Hell
State honors +Name of country, award ceremony, year given, and name of honorCountryAward CeremonyYearHonor South Korea9th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards2018Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (3rd Class)
Notes
References
External links