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Actor Kim Dies of Cancer

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Actor Kim Joo-seung died of pancreatic cancer Monday, a close aide said. He was 46.

His death was belatedly revealed to the public in accordance with the actor/producer's wishes.

His aide said that Kim died in Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province from a recurrence of the cancer.

A private memorial service _ not open to the public _ is being held in the province's Seokwang Temple.

Kim was diagnosed with the disease in 1997, but seemed to recover in 2002. However, his condition began to deteriorate from January this year.

Kim debuted in 1983 and enjoyed huge popularity because of his sharp and handsome image in the 1980s-1990s.

He drew public attention in 1990 when he married Kim Shin-ah, the first daughter of Chang Young-ja, one of the country's biggest swindlers, who was involved in major fraud related to financial irregularities in the 1980s.

After his marriage, he started producing dramas.

Following the recurrence of the cancer, he ended his 17-year-old marriage to Kim with a divorce earlier this year.

He is survived by his ex-wife and 10-year-old son.

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