'The read receipt disappeared': KBS comedian recalls sending birthday message to late Park Ji-sun

Colleagues of the late comedian Park Ji-sun from the KBS 22nd open-recruitment class have revealed that they have maintained a years-long bond with her father.

A video titled "The Reality of the Legendary 22nd Class MT, Part 2" was uploaded Monday to the YouTube channel "Jjanhan Hyung Shin Dong-yeop." Comedians Jang Hyo-in, Seong Hyeon-ju and Lee Gwang-seop appeared on the program and shared memories of their classmate Park, who died before them.

Jang said she still keeps in touch with Park's father, who has asked her to let him know whenever there are significant life events among the group.

"Every time we have a class reunion, I contact her father in advance," Jang said. "I want him to know that we haven't forgotten Ji-sun and still remember her."

She added that Park's father always asks to be informed of any milestones. "He says, 'I feel like I should do the things Ji-sun would have done. Please don't leave me out just because she's gone — let me fill her place,'" Jang said.

Park's father still keeps his daughter's mobile phone active.

Jang shared a story connected to that phone.

She said that one day, missing Park deeply, she sent a KakaoTalk message to Park's number: "Ji-sun, happy birthday. I miss you so much." A short while later, the number "1" displayed next to the message disappeared — the indicator in KakaoTalk that the recipient has read the message.

"I sent the message and then suddenly the '1' was gone — my heart just dropped," Jang recalled.

The person who had read the message was none other than Park's father. He immediately called Jang and said, "You were startled, weren't you? I wanted to give you that feeling too."

A story that showed just how deeply Park had cherished her colleagues was also shared.

Seong said she had heard from Park's older brother that when Park made her debut as a KBS open-recruitment comedian, she had kept the ID photo taken with her classmates in the top drawer of her desk.

At the time, the classmates had taken the photos for their KBS employee ID cards and exchanged copies with one another. Park, it turned out, had carefully kept all 20 of her classmates' photos.

Veteran comedian Shin Dong-yeop, the show's host, comforted the guests. "I think talking about Ji-sun naturally is good — both for her and for all of you," he said.

Park, born in 1984, made her debut in 2007 as part of the KBS 22nd open-recruitment comedian class and won wide affection through her work on shows including "Gag Concert." She died suddenly in November 2020.

If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, dial the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services.