# Kim Hye-ja Returns After Nine Years in Comfort Women Film 'Still Radiant'

- URL: https://hallyu-brief.vercel.app/en/news/kim-hye-ja-still-radiant-comeback-after-nine-5ec53e
- Published: 2026-10-16T11:56:51.221Z
- Publisher: Hallyu Brief

> Veteran actress Kim Hye-ja has returned to the big screen after nine years in the film 'Still Radiant', which tells the story of two girls under Japanese colonial rule.

## Key points

1. Kim Hye-ja plays Sunok, a girl who treasures a friendship with her companion.
2. She skipped the film's stage greeting because she had a cold.
3. She said she came back to the film because its story moved her.

## Who is in 'Still Radiant'?

Kim Hye-ja stars in 'Still Radiant', a film set in 1942 in a mountain village in Gyeongsang Province. She plays Sunok, who shares a close friendship with Jeong-im, played by Park Seo-kyung and Choi Joo-eun. Despite hard labor, the girls keep their laughter and dreams until Japanese colonial rule takes that happiness away.

## Why did Kim Hye-ja return?

Kim Hye-ja had stopped acting after her last drama, 'Heaven More Beautiful Than Heaven' (2025). According to director Song Il-gon, she wanted to stay quiet, like a wildflower by her house. She changed her mind after reading a line in a letter from Song, in which she said she wanted the girls' wish to live beautifully to be remembered.

## What did Kim Hye-ja say?

In a handwritten letter to reporters on October 15, Kim Hye-ja wrote that the story is a sad part of history that everyone knows, and that audiences should remember how much the girls suffered. She also asked that their brilliant years not be forgotten. She said that small lights from long ago can still shine on us if we keep them in our hearts.

## Her career

Kim Hye-ja joined KBS as a television actor in 1961 and has worked in film and drama for 65 years. Her last film appearance was 'The Road' in 2017, nine years before this return.

## For international fans

Kim Hye-ja is one of Korea's most respected veteran actresses. Her earlier work spans decades of Korean television and film, so this comeback is notable for longtime fans. Check local distributors for overseas release dates.

## FAQ

### What is 'Still Radiant' about?

It is a film set in 1942 about two girls in a Korean mountain village under Japanese colonial rule, centering on their friendship and the hardship they endured.

### When is 'Still Radiant' released?

According to the report, the film is scheduled to open in October 2026.

## Sources

- [Yonhap News](https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20261015169700005)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._