Nine years on: Tributes pour in for late actor Kim Ju-hyuk

The entertainment industry is marking the ninth anniversary of actor Kim Ju-hyuk's death Friday, with tributes flowing in for the late star. The sudden loss in a traffic accident left a grief that has not faded with the years.

Kim Dong-sik, CEO of Namoo Actors — the agency Kim Ju-hyuk was with during his lifetime — shared photos from a visit to the grave Thursday. "I may have grown more numb to it, but whenever this time of year comes around, I miss him so much," Kim wrote.

"I don't think about Ju-hyuk every single day, but on the drive down to Seosan, we always end up talking about him the whole way without realizing how much time has passed," Kim added, saying memories of the late actor still come flooding back.

Kim also expressed gratitude to fans, writing: "When we arrived at the grave, a fan who cherished Ju-hyuk was there mourning his ninth anniversary with these beautiful flowers."

In the photos Kim shared, a single cigarette — a nod to the late actor's habit in life — rested beside the grave, which was surrounded by yellow autumn chrysanthemums.

"It may be a pointless thought, but if he were alive, he'd be in his mid-50s. What kind of actor would Kim Ju-hyuk be at that age?" Kim wrote, reflecting on what might have been.

Actor Bong Tae-gyu also paid tribute Friday, posting on social media a still from "When Romance Meets Destiny" (2005), a film in which the two had starred together.

Kim Ju-hyuk died Oct. 30, 2017, after a vehicle rollover accident near Samseong-dong in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Rushed to hospital immediately after the crash, Kim never recovered and died at 45. An autopsy later determined the cause of death to be severe head trauma, though the exact cause of the accident was never established, deepening the grief of those who mourned Kim.

Kim made his debut in 1998 as an eighth-round recruit through SBS's open talent audition and went on to appear in a wide range of projects, showcasing a distinctive screen presence. Drama series credits include "Lovers in Prague," "Guam Heo Jun" and "Argon," while film credits include "Singles," "When Romance Meets Destiny," "My Wife Got Married," "The Servant," "Joint Security Area" and "Believer."

From 2013 to 2015, Kim also won broad public affection through the KBS 2TV variety program "2 Days & 1 Night," where an easygoing and approachable charm endeared Kim to audiences beyond his acting work.