[Sportschosun Kim So-hee] Comedian Shim Jin-hwa expressed her enduring longing for her late close friend Kim Hyung Eun, who passed away.
On the 10th, Shim Jin-hwa posted a photo on her social network service (SNS) with the brief caption, "Visiting Hyung Eun."
The released photo showed Shim Jin-hwa visiting the columbarium of the late Kim Hyung Eun. She also prepared a bouquet of flowers herself, expressing her longing for her longtime friend. Though short, the phrase "Visiting Hyung Eun" carried deep affection for a friend she has never forgotten, even 19 years later.
Kim Hyung Eun died on January 10, 2007, after a long battle following a serious traffic accident in 2006. This year marks the 19th anniversary of her death, but Shim Jin-hwa continues to remember her by observing the anniversary of her passing and her birthday every year. Their friendship, unchanged over time, has moved many people.
Shim Jin-hwa's heartfelt care extends not only to the deceased but also to her bereaved family. She has maintained a long relationship with Kim Hyung Eun's family and shared warmth with them over the years. Last year, she drew attention for personally organizing the late comedian's father's 90th birthday celebration, and she was also reported to have visited on Parents' Day to deliver carnations and thoughtful gifts.
Beyond loyalty to a close friend in life, Shim Jin-hwa's care for the family left behind has touched many hearts. Internet users also sent their support, leaving comments such as, "This is true friendship," "Hyung Eun would probably be grateful from heaven," and "It moves me every time I see it."
Meanwhile, Kim Hyung Eun debuted in 2003 as part of the seventh open recruitment class of comedians at Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) and gained popularity on SBS's "People Looking for a Laugh" with the "Beauty Trio" segment alongside Shim Jin-hwa and Jang Kyung-hee.
However, in 2006, while traveling with colleagues including Shim Jin-hwa and Jang Kyung-hee to a resort in Gangwon Province for a schedule, she was involved in a chain-reaction collision that left many heartbroken. She later underwent major surgery and fought to recover, but never regained consciousness. She died on January 10, 2007, at the age of 27.
Nineteen years have passed since her death, but Shim Jin-hwa and other comedian colleagues still visit the columbarium every year to remember her. Their friendship and longing, unchanged by time, continue to leave many people deeply moved.
