Jazz pianist Maria Kim fondly reminisced about her time teaching Park Bo Gum, describing him as one of the most exceptional students she had ever encountered—a student who consistently demonstrated extraordinary dedication during his graduate studies.
On July 25, Maria Kim made a guest appearance on KBS2TV’s Park Bo Gum’s Cantabile, where she and her former student shared a touching reunion that beautifully illustrated their unique connection.
Park Bo Gum revealed that Maria Kim had been his professor during graduate school, emphasizing the profound significance of their relationship.
“I’ve seen him frequently on the show,” Kim said with a warm smile. “And truthfully, he was the most outstanding student I’ve ever taught.” Her heartfelt praise brought a modest, shy smile to the actor’s face.
When Park Bo Gum inquired, “Do you remember teaching me? What kind of student was I?”
Kim responded affectionately, “Absolutely—it’s a memory I’ll never forget. The moment you entered my classroom, I thought, ‘This student is destined for an A+.'”
Intrigued, Park followed up, “Why did you feel that way?”
With a playful chuckle, she explained, “I just had an intuition—he embodied the essence of an A+ student.”
To which Park laughed, “Oh my, that must have been quite the pressure!”
Kim continued, “He played magnificently, connected wonderfully with everyone, and always brought something extraordinary to every assignment. That’s precisely why I believed he genuinely deserved that A+.”
“I’m truly grateful,” Park Bo Gum responded. “I genuinely cherished my time in grad school. It profoundly deepened my passion for music, which ultimately led me to host Cantabile.”
Maria Kim smiled warmly, saying, “I’m incredibly proud of you.”
“And I’m deeply appreciative,” Park replied. “It means the world to me to share this moment with you, Professor.”
Later in the broadcast, the two performed a deeply moving jazz duet, touching viewers’ hearts with their nostalgic performance and perfectly capturing the profound respect and affection between a teacher and her student.
