Veteran singer Shim Soo-bong (71) issued an apology for stating, "My head is spinning because of a young lady who doesn't really know what singing is," to which Kim Da-hyun (17) responded with a mature attitude, saying, "I will calm my mind well."
On the 21st, Kim Da-hyun posted on her Instagram, "Hello, this is Kim Da-hyun. I spoke directly with Shim Soo-bong, and she offered a personal apology and warm comfort." She continued, "Fans, you must have been upset and worried because of this incident. Don't worry, as I will calm my mind well, and let's meet with bright faces. Thank you."
Previously, Shim sparked controversy on the 20th during her performance at the "10th Jinan Plateau Trot Festival" held in Jinan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, with remarks targeting Kim Da-hyun, who performed right before her.
Shim publicly lectured the audience, saying, "The young girl who sang just before me made my head spin. It seems like a young lady who doesn't know what singing is, what life is. Listening to her sing makes it too hard for me now. Please do not send that player (Kim Da-hyun) out in front of me anymore, going forward."
As the video of the remarks spread online, critical public opinion grew. Pointing out that it was inappropriate for a veteran to make strong public remarks targeting a junior singer who is a minor born in 2009 continued. In particular, criticism followed regarding the use of expressions such as "young girl," "young lady," and "player" to refer to Kim Da-hyun. As the controversy spread, traffic surged, causing Shim's official website to crash temporarily.
As the controversy grew, Shim issued an official apology on the 21st through her agency.
She bowed her head, saying, "To put it simply, I made a slip of the tongue. I have nothing to say even if I have ten mouths, given that inappropriate words came out at an improper moment during a trot festival where everyone should be laughing and enjoying themselves. I didn't know exactly who the preceding singer was, and it was certainly not meant to shame a specific person. As an adult, it was definitely wrong of me to say things that hurt a junior singer's heart."
Shim also stated that she shared direct apologies with Kim Da-hyun and her family.
She repeatedly stated, "When Kim Da-hyun's father told me that Kim Da-hyun played the piano and sang "Million Roses" at her concert, thinking about "how much she must have practiced" made my eyes water. I express deep regret and apologies to Kim Da-hyun, her fan club, and all the staff who worked hard for the event. I sincerely apologize to the many participants who came to watch the performance on the day of the trot festival. I ask for your forgiveness with a generous heart."
Meanwhile, Shim Soo-bong and Kim Da-hyun have a history of appearing on the same broadcast multiple times in the past. Kim appeared on MBN "The Best K-Trot Singer" in 2023, where Shim participated as a special master to judge Kim's performance, and in December of the same year, the two appeared side by side on SBS FiL and SBS M "The Trot Show".
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.