On the evening of May 9, 2026, South Korea’s beloved variety show Knowing Bros (아는 형님) welcomed three of the country’s most respected senior actresses—Kim Young-ok, Sa Mi-ja, and Nam Neung-mi—onto its stage. With a combined age of 253 years and a staggering 191 years of acting experience among them, these women brought not just gravitas, but a living, breathing testament to Korea’s tumultuous modern history and enduring cultural spirit.
From the moment Kim Young-ok (88), Sa Mi-ja (86), and Nam Neung-mi (79) entered the studio, the atmosphere was charged with a unique blend of reverence and anticipation. Even the show’s famously unflappable hosts, Kang Ho-dong and Lee Soo-geun, found themselves treading carefully. As reported by MHN, the show’s trademark “informal speech” format suddenly seemed daunting in the presence of such esteemed guests. Kang Ho-dong nervously asked if it was alright to drop honorifics, while Lee Soo-geun, normally quick with a joke, hesitated before reverting to polite language, drawing laughter from everyone present.
But it wasn’t just the age or star power of these women that captivated viewers. What unfolded was a rare, intergenerational storytelling session that spanned the sweep of Korea’s 20th-century history, all filtered through the personal memories of three extraordinary women. Kim Young-ok set the tone by recalling a childhood memory that few living Koreans can now claim: “I was 8 years old when Korea was liberated,” she said, as quoted by Gukje News. “I still vividly remember shouting ‘manse’ in the streets.” She admitted she didn’t fully understand the significance at the time, but the joy and energy of the crowd left a lasting impression.
Sa Mi-ja, too, was swept up in memories. She softly sang a song from the liberation era, recalling, “There was a song that went, ‘On the liberated carriage, with the Taegukgi waving.’” The moment was as poignant as it was spontaneous, offering younger viewers a living connection to a moment most only know from textbooks. Nam Neung-mi, who was born after the liberation, joked, “I feel like I can’t join in this conversation,” adding a note of levity and highlighting the generational bridge the three actresses represented.
The conversation soon turned to the Korean War, a period that shaped the childhoods and early careers of both Kim Young-ok and Sa Mi-ja. Kim Young-ok described the harrowing experience of fleeing her home: “With a bundle of blankets on my back, my whole family set out as refugees. We had nowhere to go, so we begged to spend the night at any house that would take us in. We ended up staying at a bachelor’s home until Cheongyang was recaptured,” she recounted, according to MHN. Sa Mi-ja echoed the trauma: “During the 6.25 War, we couldn’t flee at first—there were rumors the communists were capturing people. Eventually, we had to escape with only what we could carry.”
Their recollections weren’t limited to grand historical events. Sa Mi-ja, when asked about transportation in her youth, laughed, “Back then, trams were the only thing we could ride.” These details, mundane yet evocative, painted a vivid picture of a Korea that has changed almost beyond recognition in the decades since.
Yet, for all their gravitas, the actresses’ youthful spirits shone through. In a segment that surprised many, the trio revealed their favorite celebrities—showing that age is no barrier to fandom or the thrill of pop culture. Kim Young-ok shared, “I’m best friends with Monsta X’s Jooheon. I was invited to his concert, and it made me so happy. He feels like a real grandson to me, and I have a crush on Lim Young-woong.” According to eToday, her confession drew both laughter and admiration from the studio. Sa Mi-ja, not to be outdone, revealed her fondness for Lee Soo-geun, saying, “I’d like to do a program together,” to which he playfully responded, “Sa Mi-ja! Let’s date!” Nam Neung-mi, meanwhile, admitted, “I don’t have a favorite celebrity to that extent, but I do like Jang Min-ho and BTS.”
The show also allowed the actresses to share more personal, even vulnerable, sides of themselves. Nam Neung-mi recounted a story about being unfairly labeled a “bad-mouthed” person at the broadcasting station, all because of a late-night incident with actor Lee Gye-in. “He came to my house at 2 a.m. after fishing and asked me to cook spicy fish stew. I snapped at him, but it was just because it was so late!” she explained, ultimately revealing a warm, maternal side: “He just missed my mom’s cooking.”
Throughout the episode, the interplay between the veterans and the regular cast was a show in itself. The hosts, usually quick-witted and irreverent, found themselves both humbled and charmed by their guests. When Kim Young-ok humorously chose Kim Young-chul as her preferred partner, she quipped, “I picked him because he looked pitiful,” showing that her sense of humor remains as sharp as ever.
But perhaps the most striking aspect of the broadcast was the way these women embodied both Korea’s past and its present. Their stories of survival, resilience, and adaptation mirrored the nation’s own journey from colonization and war to modern prosperity and global cultural influence. Yet, their unabashed enthusiasm for today’s pop stars, their playful banter, and their willingness to engage in the show’s informal format reminded viewers that the spirit of youth doesn’t fade with age.
It’s rare to see such a seamless blend of history lesson, comedy, and heartfelt confession on mainstream television. As JTBC’s Knowing Bros demonstrated, sometimes the most compelling stories come not from scripted drama, but from those who have truly lived through the ups and downs of a nation’s history. The presence of Kim Young-ok, Sa Mi-ja, and Nam Neung-mi offered a living archive, a bridge between generations, and—perhaps most importantly—a reminder that the heart stays young, no matter how many years pass.
The episode left a lasting impression, not just for its entertainment value but for the depth of humanity and history it brought to the screen. For many viewers, it was a chance to reflect on how much Korea has changed—and how much its people, young and old, share in common.