Yoon Suk-hwa, the 69-year-old grand dame of Korean theater who has been battling a brain tumor, is in critical condition.
On Dec. 19 local time, the Korea Theatre Actors Association said in a statement that Yoon remains gravely ill but “is currently breathing under the care of her family.”
Earlier that morning, the association mistakenly issued a pre-dawn press release around 5 a.m. reporting her death, then rapidly retracted the notice after confirming it was incorrect.
In its correction, the group clarified that reports of Yoon’s passing were untrue and offered a deep apology to her family and fans for the confusion, adding that it takes responsibility for the distress caused to loved ones praying for her recovery.
Yoon underwent surgery for a malignant brain tumor in October 2022. In an August 2023 interview, she shared that she had halted chemotherapy and shifted to natural therapies.
That November, she was seen attending a religious service to support singer Yoo Yeol, who has been battling pulmonary fibrosis. Though visibly thinner and more frail, Yoon maintained a bright spirit, drawing an outpouring of encouragement from fans.
Debuting in 1975 with the play “Honey Taste,” Yoon has been a mainstay of the stage for nearly five decades, working across theater, musicals and film. Since 1994, she has led the theater troupe Dolkkot Company, championing new work and mentoring younger artists.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)