“Why is the Cause of Death Different?” Remembering the “Original National Mother” Park Joo-ah, 15 Years After Her Passing

It has already been 15 years since the late actress Park Joo-ah, who was widely loved as the “original national mother” and a warm sanctuary for TV viewers, left us after her battle with cancer.

May 16, 2026, marks the 15th anniversary of her passing. On May 16, 2011, Park Joo-ah was diagnosed with early-stage renal pelvis cancer and underwent surgery, but she unfortunately passed away at the age of 69.

After undergoing a nephrectomy and receiving intensive care in the ICU, she suddenly fell into a brain-dead state and never woke up.

The bereaved family felt strong suspicions when she suddenly passed away despite not being in critical condition. They took a firm stance, stating they would halt funeral proceedings until the hospital provided a convincing explanation.

At the time, medical staff explained, “Due to her advanced age, she suffered from hypertension, diabetes, and decreased kidney function in addition to renal pelvis cancer at the time of surgery. The medical team diagnosed it as complications resulting from multiple organ failure after surgery.”

“It wasn’t that her condition deteriorated suddenly, but rather that recovery became increasingly difficult over time,” they clarified. “While the attending physician was abroad, other primary physicians are closely reviewing the treatment records, but the possibility of a medical accident is very low.”

However, the family did not accept the hospital’s announcement even 50 days after her passing.

Eventually, pointing out that the causes of death listed on the death certificates across different medical departments were inconsistent, the family filed a complaint with the prosecution against five individuals, including doctors, on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

The late Park Joo-ah first entered the broadcasting world as part of the 1st KBS open recruitment for talent in 1962. In 1972, she left an indelible mark with her exceptional performance as a stern mother-in-law in the popular drama ‘Yeoro’.

She later shared many moments with viewers through numerous masterpieces such as ‘Toji’, ‘Seoul Ttukbaegi’, ‘The King and the Queen’, ‘On Air’, and ‘Life is Beautiful’.

It is known that she continued to give her all in her acting, appearing on the set of the drama ‘I Trusted a Man’ until just two months before her passing.

The passionate artistic spirit of the original national mother, who stayed in front of the camera until the very end, continues to resonate deeply in the hearts of the public even 15 years later.