# Kim Young-ok

Kim Young-ok (Korean: 김영옥; 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.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1957 | Farewell Sorrow! | | |
| 1958 | Open the Door to a Pure Heart | | |
| 1959 | Bear | | |
| 1959 | 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 | | |
| 1968 | 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 | |
| 1990 | The Lovers of Woomook-baemi | Il-do's mother | |
| 1999 | White Valentine | Flower shop lady | |
| 2003 | Spring Breeze | Seon-guk's mother | |
| 2003 | A Man Who Has Been Revealed | Middle-aged woman | |
| 2004 | Springtime | Jae-il's grandmother | |
| 2006 | Old Miss Diary: The Movie | Young-ok | |
| 2007 | Big Bang | Yang Chul-gon's mother | |
| 2007 | Soo | Police officer Seo's grandmother | Cameo |
| 2008 | Public Enemy Returns | Kang Chul-joong's mother | |
| 2008 | 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-law | |
| 2015 | Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies | Chairwoman Yeon | |
| 2015 | Granny's Got Talent | Grandmother shaman | Cameo |
| 2015 | Makgeolli Girls | | |
| 2015 | Bean Sprouts | Gong Na-mul's mother | Cameo |
| 2017 | Snowy Road | Choi Jong-boon (adult) | |
| 2021 | Nothing Serious | Ja-young's grandmother | |
| 2022 | Take Care of Mom | | Lead Role |
| 2024 | Picnic | Geum-soon | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Master | | |
| 1978 | I Sell Happiness | | |
| 1981 | Se-ah | | |
| 1985 | The Seaside Village | | |
| 1986 | Love and Ambition | Hae-young's aunt | |
| 1988 | Forget Tomorrow | | |
| 1988 | Teacher, Our Teacher | | |
| 1988 | The Last Idol | | |
| 1989 | Wang Rung's Kin | | |
| 1989 | Flowering Nest | | |
| 1989 | Carousel | | |
| 1989 | Armband | | |
| 1990 | That Woman | | |
| 1990 | My Mother | | |
| 1991 | Yesterday's Green Grass | | |
| 1993 | Long Time Ago When I Was Young | | |
| 1993 | Wild Chrysanthemum | | |
| 1993 | To Live | | |
| 1993 | 3rd Republic | Paek Nam-ui, Park Chung Hee's mother | |
| 1993 | Sergeant Oh | | |
| 1993 | MBC Best Theater: "Sundal, Byeonggu, and Okju" | Ms. Yeo | |
| 1994 | MBC Best Theater: "Street Sign Buddha" | Abandoned grandmother | |
| 1994 | The Woman in the Matchbox | | |
| 1995 | The Road | Mrs. Song | |
| 1995 | Another Beginning | | |
| 1996 | Wealthy Yu-chun | | |
| 1996 | The Most Beautiful Goodbye in the World | Sang Joo-daek | |
| 1996 | Until We Can Love | | |
| 1996 | The Scent of Winter | | |
| 1997 | Golden Feather | | |
| 1997 | The Reason I Live | Kim Sook-hee | |
| 1997 | Beautiful Crime | | |
| 1997 | Bridal Room | | |
| 1998 | A Bird's Gift | Maternal grandmother | |
| 1998 | Love is All I Know | | |
| 1998 | Please Find My Dad | | |
| 1998 | You and My Song | | |
| 2000 | Wang Rung's Land | Oh Ran | |
| 2000 | Ajumma | Sam-sook's maternal grandmother | |
| 2001 | Wonderful Days | Grandmother | |
| 2001 | Morning Without Parting | Kim Kyung-hee | |
| 2002 | Successful Story of a Bright Girl | Cha Yang-soon's grandmother | |
| 2002 | Since We Met | Kang Min-seok's grandmother | |
| 2002 | Solitude | Kim Il-soon | |
| 2002 | The Maengs' Golden Era | Han Eul-soon | |
| 2003 | Yellow Handkerchief | Grandmother Son | |
| 2003 | Bodyguard | Na-young's maternal grandmother | |
| 2003 | Pearl Necklace | Kim Ki-nam's grandmother | |
| 2004 | More Beautiful Than a Flower | Woo-sik's grandmother | |
| 2004 | Tropical Nights in December | Hospice patient | Cameo |
| 2004 | Old Miss Diary | Young-ok | |
| 2004 | Toji, the Land | Gan-nan's grandmother | |
| 2005 | Take My Hand | | |
| 2005 | Bizarre Bunch | Seo Mal-ja | |
| 2005 | Let's Marry | Jung Jae-won's grandmother | |
| 2006 | Special of My Life | Jung Hyung-seok's mother | |
| 2006 | Snow Flower | Lee Kang-ae's mother | |
| 2006 | Miracle | Jang Young-chul's mother | |
| 2007 | Dal-ja's Spring | Lee Kkeut-soon | |
| 2007 | Crazy in Love | Han Bok-ja | |
| 2007 | Coffee Prince | Choi Han-kyul's grandmother | |
| 2007 | Fly High | Jo Ok-young | |
| 2007 | Likeable or Not | Mrs. Choi | |
| 2007 | New Heart | | |
| 2008 | Aster | Ulgeum woman | |
| 2008 | Chil-woo the Mighty | Woman from Mungdung | |
| 2008 | Family's Honor | Yoon Sam-wol | |
| 2009 | Glory of Youth | Bae Yong-jin's mother | |
| 2009 | Boys Over Flowers | Head maid | |
| 2009 | Partner | Go Myung-ja | Cameo (Episode 9) |
| 2009 | Children of Heaven | | |
| 2009 | Jolly Widows | Park Jung-nyeo | |
| 2009 | Assorted Gems | Kyul Myung-ja | |
| 2010 | Master of Study | Lee Boon-yi | |
| 2010 | The Slave Hunters | Hwang Chul-woong's mother | |
| 2010 | Gloria | Oh Soon-nyeo | |
| 2010 | All My Love For You | Kim Young-ok | |
| 2011 | Paradise Ranch | | |
| 2011 | My Bittersweet Life | Choi Jung-ok | |
| 2011 | Bravo, My Love! | Nam Da-reum's grandmother | Cameo |
| 2011 | Protect the Boss | Mrs. Song | |
| 2011 | Just Like Today | Oh Gap-boon | |
| 2011 | Brain | Sa Bong-ja | Cameo |
| 2011 | Saving Mrs. Go Bong-shil | Kim Geum-shil | |
| 2012 | The Strongest K-Pop Survival | Kwon Ji-woo's grandmother | |
| 2012 | Love, My Love | Lee Geum-nyeo | |
| 2012 | Standby | Young-ok, Park Joon-geum's mother | Cameo |
| 2012 | Lovers of Haeundae | Shim Mal-nyun | |
| 2012 | My Lover, Madame Butterfly | Yoo Geum-dan | |
| 2012 | Here Comes Mr. Oh | Chun Geum-soon | |
| 2013 | Ruby Ring | Jo Il-soon | |
| 2013 | KBS Drama Special: "Yeon-woo's Summer" | Lee Yeon-woo's grandmother | |
| 2014 | Beyond the Clouds | Hong Soon-ok | |
| 2014 | Make Your Wish | Chairman Choi | |
| 2014 | Marriage, Not Dating | Noh Geum-soon | |
| 2014 | Rosy Lovers | Jo Bang-shil | |
| 2014 | Birth of a Beauty | Lee Kang-joon's grandmother | |
| 2015 | KBS Drama Special: "Snowy Road" | older Choi Jong-boon | |
| 2015 | The Return of Hwang Geum-bok | Wang Yeo-sa | |
| 2015 | Reply 1988 | Duk Seon's grandmother | |
| 2015 | All About My Mom | Song Ki-nam | |
| 2016 | Dear My Friends | Oh Ssang-boon | |
| 2016 | Blow Breeze | Dal-rae | |
| 2016 | Shopping King Louie | Choi Il-soon | |
| 2016 | Listen to Love | | Cameo |
| 2016 | Sweet Stranger and Me | Grandma Oh Rye | Cameo (Episode 7) |
| 2017 | Sister-in-Law | Kang Hae-Soon | |
| 2017 | Manhole | (voice only) | |
| 2017 | Live Up to Your Name | Kkot-boon | |
| 2017 | The Most Beautiful Goodbye | Grandma | |
| 2018 | Welcome to Waikiki | Jang-gun's grandma | Cameo (Episode 4) |
| 2018 | Tempted | Grandma | |
| 2018 | The Rich Son | Park Sun-ok | |
| 2018 | Ms. Hammurabi | O-reum's grandma | |
| 2018 | Witch's Love | Maeng Ye-soon | |
| 2018 | KBS Drama Special: "My Mother's Third Marriage" | Bang Cho-rong | |
| 2018 | My Strange Hero | Lee Sun-hye | |
| 2019 | The Light in Your Eyes | Lee Joon-ha's grandmother | |
| 2019 | Her Private Life | Deok-Mi's grandmother | |
| 2019 | The Golden Garden | Kang Nam-doo | |
| 2019 | Love with Flaws | Chairwoman Han | |
| 2020 | The King: Eternal Monarch | Noh Ok-nam | |
| 2021 | Mouse | Grandmother who lives alone with Oh Bong-i | |
| 2021 | Jirisan | Lee Moon-ok | |
| 2021 | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Kim Gam-ri | |
| 2021–2022 | Young Lady and Gentleman | Jin Dal-rae | |
| 2022 | Bravo, My Life | Seo Dong-hee's grandmother | Cameo |
| 2022 | Tomorrow | Lee Jeong-moon | Cameo (Episode 13) |
| 2022 | The Law Cafe | Wol-seon | Cameo |
| 2022–2023 | Vengeance of the Bride | Park Yong-ja | |
| 2023 | King the Land | Cha Soon-hee | |
| 2024 | The Midnight Studio | So Geum-soon | |
| 2024 | Iron Family | Ahn Gil-rye | |
| 2024 | The Judge from Hell | Oh Mi-ja | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2019–2021 | Love Alarm | Jo-jo's grandmother | Season 1–2 |
| 2021 | Squid Game | Seong Gi-hun's mother | |
| 2022 | Pachinko | older Bokhee | |
| TBA | Men and Men | | |

### Television show

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2013 | Mamado ("Mama, Too") | Cast member |
| 2016 | Tribe of Hip Hop | Participant |
| 2022 | Attack on Grandma | Host |
| 2022 | Hot Singers | Cast Member |
| 2022 | Prefabricated Family | Host |

### 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 | Won |
| 1992 | 28th Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actress (TV) | Yesterday's Green Grass | Won |
| 1993 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Wild Chrysanthemum, Love and Farewell | Won |
| 2005 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Achievement Award | Old Miss Diary | Won |
| 2007 | 44th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Old Miss Diary: The Movie | Nominated |
| 2009 | MBC Drama Awards | Golden Acting Award, Actress in a Serial Drama | Assorted Gems | Won |
| 2011 | SBS Drama Awards | Achievement Award | Protect the Boss | Won |
| 2015 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama | Snowy Road | Won |
| 2018 | 11th Korea Drama Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | Kim Young-ok | Won |
| 2016 | Scene Stealer Festival | Lifetime Achievement Award | Kim Young-ok | Won |
| 2024 | SBS Drama Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | The Judge from Hell | Won |

### State honors

Name of country, award ceremony, year given, and name of honor :
| Country | Award Ceremony | Year | Honor | Ref. |
| South Korea | 9th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards | 2018 | Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit (3rd Class) | |