Comedian Lee Sung-mi takes funeral portraits every three years

Comedian Lee Sung-mi revealed on the MBN program "Body Insight" on the 2nd that she takes a new funeral portrait every three years. Following her 2013 breast cancer surgery, she also prepared her burial shroud and columbary to prevent her family from becoming flustered.

Comedian Lee Sung-mi has revealed a unique personal habit of preparing for death following her battle with cancer. Her confession that she takes a new funeral portrait every three years and has already prepared her burial shroud and columbary reveals a side of her that has endured the weight of life through laughter. In particular, her sincere desire to be remembered with a beautiful appearance until her final moment drew attention when she shared her funeral portrait.

In the MBN program "Body Insight" broadcast on the 2nd, Lee Sung-mi was seen visiting a photo studio with junior comedian Jeon Young-mi. Lee, who was elegantly dressed, headed to a studio specifically for funeral portrait photography. She showed the photo to Jeon Young-mi and asked for her opinion, stating, "I take a funeral portrait every three years."

When Jeon Young-mi remarked, "There is no set order for going," Lee responded with her characteristic blunt wit. "I am scheduled to go first. Since I am going first and you will go after me, you should take one while you're here too," she joked. The conversation between the two turned the heavy subject of death into a pleasant moment on set.

However, Lee's reason for taking funeral portraits regularly was not merely for jokes or eccentric taste. She explained, "There should be a funeral portrait that matches one's age," adding, "If I die at 70 but have a photo from my 40s displayed, it would be strange." It was a choice rooted in the desire to naturally leave behind her current appearance at her final moment.

The atmosphere of the photo is also something she considers important. Lee expressed her wish that "the funeral portrait should be bright." Although it is a photo symbolizing death, she wants to capture her bright self during her lifetime rather than a dark and gloomy image. By also revealing that she has prepared her burial shroud and columbary in advance, she showed an attitude of not accepting death solely as a vague fear.

These preparations became more concrete after she underwent breast cancer surgery in 2013. "While going through cancer, I felt that things that need to be done should be done in advance," Lee confessed. "If preparations are not made, the family becomes flustered." She decided that preparing for her end could reduce unnecessary confusion and burden for the family left behind.

"Since I want to leave a beautiful photo on my final journey if possible, I started taking funeral portraits every three years. I am preparing in advance just in case," she added. Her confession resonated as the act of preparing for death actually allows one to view current life more realistically. The act of revealing her funeral portrait is seen as an expression of her attachment to life and her will to leave behind her true self until the end.

After receiving breast cancer surgery in 2013, Lee was declared fully recovered in 2018, five years later. The fear and uncertainty left by the disease continued to influence her outlook on life even after her recovery. On the TV CHOSUN program "Perfect Life" broadcast on the 28th of last month, she recalled memories of her battle with cancer and spoke about the psychological impact the disease leaves on individuals and families.

During the broadcast, actress Kim Ye-ryeong revealed that she underwent three surgeries under general anesthesia, starting with the removal of a submucosal tumor in the stomach in 2021, followed by the removal of an ovarian cyst the next year, and then thyroid cancer surgery the year after that. Lee expressed deep empathy with Kim's confession that just before surgery, she thought, "If I don't wake up, what will happen to my children?"

Lee confessed, "The fear that the word 'cancer' carries seems immense," adding, "I even wrote a will for my children the day before my breast cancer surgery." Even for her, who has always provided laughter to the public through her cheerful and strong image, the fear of death and family was an unavoidable reality.

The reason Lee Sung-mi, who directly faced the possibility of death through her battle with cancer, takes a funeral portrait every three years is ultimately preparation for herself and her family. Her desire to be remembered with a bright and beautiful appearance until the last moment, and her intention to pave the way in advance so that her remaining family does not fall into confusion, explains her special daily routine. Through her confession of preparing for death, Lee's sincerity in valuing life even more was conveyed.

Read the original (Korean)