Nam Jin Reveals He Once Survived a Stabbing: "2 Millimeters Closer and I Might Not Be Here"

Singing legend Nam Jin is sharing a jaw-dropping story about the time he was stabbed.

On the Jan. 16 episode of SBS’s Friday variety series "Manager Seojin", the 81-year-old icon appears as the show’s 15th “My Star.”

The episode follows Nam Jin on his 60th-anniversary nationwide tour, capturing not only his two-and-a-half-hour, high-energy set but also the enduring devotion of fans who still call him their “forever oppa.”

Despite the onstage fire, his first scene unfolds in an unexpected place: a massage clinic. As he gets his legs worked on before the concert, Nam Jin drops a bombshell, recalling a past incident when he was stabbed in the thigh. “If it had been off by just two millimeters, I might not be standing here,” he says, before revealing he’s still kept an unlikely connection with the person who harmed him ― a revelation that leaves the "Manager Seojin" team stunned.

Lee Seo-jin, who’s long been part of the “silver-spoon universe,” proves his chops as the ultimate right-hand man ― from bonding over a shared love of Elvis to nailing tuxedo quick changes ― earning Nam Jin’s full trust in the process. Meanwhile, Kim Kwang-gyu, hilariously out of sync with the duo’s rhythm, quips, “I just don’t mesh with kids from rich families,” drawing laughs.

Even with his "Grandpas Over Flowers" caregiving experience, Lee’s episode arc ends on a twist: after giving it his all, he admits, “I guess I managed this the wrong way,” teasing how the story wraps up.

How will the “legend of legends” caretaking mission end? "Manager Seojin" airs Friday, Jan. 16 at 11:10 p.m. KST.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)