Shin Hyun-joon recalls late Kim Su-mi: naming his son, handwritten letters, and a casting story

Peru, a handwritten letter, and a name

Shin Hyun-joon showed up on tvN's You Quiz on the Block on September 23 with stories about the late Kim Su-mi. The actress had named his son. She'd also agreed to star in Barefoot Ki-bong after he arrived at her door with a handwritten letter and a script.

Right now, Korean media calls what's happening to him a second peak. His 20-year-old drama Stairway to Heaven found a massive audience in South America. He picked up the nickname "Prince of Peru." He debuted in 1990 with The General's Son. His filmography includes Ginkgo Bed, the Family Honor series, Barefoot Ki-bong, and Bridal Mask.

How Kim Su-mi ended up in two of his films

The Kim Su-mi stories dominated the episode. Shin was so struck by her work in Mapado that he went straight to the production company to push for her in Family Honor 2. When he later wanted her for Barefoot Ki-bong, he hit a wall. Kim Su-mi had said publicly she wouldn't take on hard labor roles anymore. He showed up anyway with letter and script.

She said yes immediately. "Do I need to read the script when you're in it?" she asked him.

The name his mother-in-law almost gave his son

Shin also shared a story about his first child, born two years into his marriage. His mother-in-law visited a naming service and returned with a suggestion: Shin Chang-won (신창원). He wasn't sold.

"My mother-in-law said it was a forgotten name, but I only thought of the famous rainbow t-shirt," he said.

He asked Kim Su-mi instead—someone he saw as a mother figure. She recommended Min-jun (민준). That's what he chose.

You Quiz on the Block airs Wednesdays at 8:45 PM on tvN.