Kim Hye-ja, 85, Misses Still Shining Audience Greeting After Festival Health Concerns

A scheduled audience greeting for Still Shining featuring Kim Hye-ja was canceled in Seoul on the 15th, renewing concern about the 85-year-old actor after she was seen walking with assistance and repeatedly coughing on a festival red carpet. Distributor Plus M Entertainment had previously described her condition as cold symptoms; the cancellation alone does not establish a more serious health problem.

The Still Shining team announced on the 15th that the pre-screening greeting had been canceled “due to unavoidable circumstances” and asked audiences for their understanding. Kim Hye-ja had been due to meet viewers at 2 p.m. at Megabox COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, alongside director Song Il-gon and fellow cast members. The appearance was intended to build anticipation for the film and give the team an opportunity to speak directly with audiences.

Kim Hye-ja had planned to attend only the audience greeting, without taking part in the press conference. Her schedule had reportedly been adjusted around the packed festival program to prioritize meeting viewers. The cancellation of that appearance disappointed fans, while recently released footage from the festival drew renewed attention and further concern about her condition.

Earlier, Kim Hye-ja joined the Still Shining team on the opening ceremony red carpet at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, held at Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu, Busan. She moved slowly and carefully with support from those around her and was seen covering her mouth with her hand as she coughed. Her age and an appearance that differed from the image familiar to the public prompted expressions of concern online.

As speculation about her health spread, Plus M Entertainment said Kim Hye-ja simply had cold symptoms. The distributor said her festival activities were being managed with consideration for her age and current condition, and that she planned to complete her scheduled appearances as planned. The subsequent cancellation brought renewed attention to her current health and future schedule.

A veteran of television and film, Kim Hye-ja is widely regarded as a beloved national actor, admired for the depth of her performances and her warm presence. That longstanding affection has made fans particularly concerned about her health. The canceled greeting was especially disappointing because the Busan International Film Festival offered an opportunity for her to meet audiences through her new film.

Still Shining has attracted attention as Kim Hye-ja’s return to the big screen after about nine years. She plays Sun-ok, who reunites after 60 years with the close friend who shared the brightest period of her life. Her performance and long-awaited film return had raised anticipation for the emotional impact of the story.

No further details about Kim Hye-ja’s specific condition or future schedule have been confirmed. The information publicly available remains the distributor’s explanation that she had cold symptoms and the cancellation of the greeting on the 15th. With those details still limited, her health remains the priority, with support for sufficient rest and recovery more appropriate than premature speculation.

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