Kim Young-ok Biography: Net Worth, Height, Ethnicity, Age, Parents, Siblings, Husband, Films, Children

Kim Young-ok is a legendary South Korean actress, affectionately known as the “National Grandma” for her iconic portrayals of grandmothers in film and television.

With a career spanning over 69 years since her debut in 1957, she is Korea’s oldest active actress, celebrated for her versatility across various genres, including romantic dramas, historical epics, and comedies.

Her recent roles in Picnic (2024) and The Judge from Hell (2024) earned her the Seoul Global Movie Awards’ Best Actress and the SBS Drama Awards’ Achievement Award, respectively, underscoring her enduring impact.

Profile

• Full Name: Kim Young-ok
• Stage Name: Kim Young-ok
• Born: 6, January 1938
• Age: 87 years old
• Birthplace: Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: Actress, Voice Actress, and Narrator
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: 2
• Spouse: Kim Young-gil (deceased)
• Children: 2
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $5 million to $10 million

Early Life and Education

Kim Young-ok was born in 1938 in Seoul’s Jongno District during Japanese colonial rule. Her early life was marked by hardship, including the Korean War (1950-53), during which her eldest brother was drafted into the North Korean military, and her second brother fought for the South, a reality mirrored in the film Taegukgi.

She found solace in the theatre, joining high school drama clubs and debuting onstage in “The Monkey’s Paw” (1957). After graduating from Seoul Gyeseong Girls’ High School, she briefly attended university but left to pursue acting, later joining the Chuncheon Broadcasting Station as an announcer in 1959. Her ethnicity is Korean, and her religion is not publicly disclosed.

Career

Kim Young-ok began her illustrious career in 1957 with the film Farewell Sorrow! At the young age of 19, she quickly established herself as a versatile and enduring presence in the Korean entertainment industry.

Over the decades, she has appeared in more than 200 television dramas and films, showcasing her remarkable range of talent. Transitioning to voice acting in 1961 with MBC Cultural Broadcasting, she expanded her talents beyond on-screen roles.

Her first television drama appearance came in 1969, and her breakthrough came with I Sell Happiness (1978), which earned her the prestigious Grand Prize for Television at the 15th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Kim’s memorable roles in popular dramas such as Boys Over Flowers (2009), Coffee Prince (2007), and the global sensation Squid Game (2021) have cemented her status as a beloved figure in Korean television.

Kim Young-ok’s film career is equally distinguished, featuring classics like The Housemaid (1960) and The Road to Sampo (1975), as well as recent works such as Ballerina (2023), where she portrayed a fierce flamethrower-wielding grandmother, and Picnic (2024), alongside Na Moon-hee, which earned her a Best Actress award.

Her innovative portrayal of a dementia patient in Old Golden Grass (1991) broke new ground in Korean cinema, while her comedic talents shone in Old Miss Diary (2005), garnering her the KBS Drama Awards Achievement Award.

Beyond acting, Kim has lent her voice to beloved projects like Taekwon V and narrated the series Our Sweet Homes (2019–), for which she received the 2020 Korea Broadcasting Prize.

Despite facing health challenges, including a COVID-19 diagnosis in 2022 that postponed the press conference for Take Care of My Mom, Kim Young-ok’s dedication to her craft remains unwavering. In 2024, she delivered a captivating performance as an angel disguised as an elderly tenant in The Judge from Hell, earning the SBS Drama Awards’ Achievement Award.

Her fans, active on platforms like AsianWiki and X, celebrate her impeccable comedic timing and profound emotional depth, hailing her as a “timeless icon” in Korean entertainment. With a career spanning nearly seven decades, Kim continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

Social Media

Kim Young-ok is not active on social media networks.

Personal Life

Kim Young-ok was married to announcer Kim Young-gil, who passed away before her. She has one daughter, who suffered health issues after a tragic 2015 accident in which Kim’s grandson was hit by a drunk driver’s truck.

Kim has since taken care of her daughter. In a 2019 appearance on Happy Together, she expressed disillusionment with marriage, citing her husband’s trivial grievances.

She reunited with her eldest brother, who had been separated during the Korean War, in 2000 after 55 years. She maintains her health through moderation, as shared in a 2025 interview with JoongAng Ilbo, and remains active despite her age.

Filmography

•    Farewell Sorrow! (1957)
•    The Housemaid (1960)
•    The Road to Sampo (1975)
•    The Surrogate Woman (1987)
•    The Attorney (2013)
•    The Throne (2015)
•    Take Care of My Mom (2022)
•     Ballerina (2023)
•     Picnic (2024)

Net Worth

Kim Young-ok’s estimated net worth is between $5 million and USD 10 million. Her wealth stems from her extensive career in film, television, voice acting, and narration, with significant earnings from hits like Squid Game, Pachinko (2022–24), and The Judge from Hell.

Awards, including the Bogwan Order of Cultural Merit and multiple Baeksang Arts Awards, have enhanced her marketability, while her enduring presence in the industry ensures a steady income.