Singer Shim Su-bong and Kim Da-hyun [Online community]
Singer Shim Su-bong and Kim Da-hyun [Online community]

Singer Shim Su-bong, 71, has apologized for publicly criticizing fellow singer Kim Da-hyun, 17.

Shim issued a statement through her agency Monday, saying, "I made what can only be called a slip of the tongue on stage at a trot music festival in the provinces, in front of a large audience."

"It is true that I have long had worries and concerns about popular music, and that I was under considerable stress from the noise at the venue that day," she said. "Even so, I have no excuse for uttering words that went beyond common sense at an inappropriate moment during a trot festival where everyone should have been laughing and having a good time."

Shim also acknowledged wrongdoing toward Kim specifically. "Above all, I did not know exactly who the singer performing before me was, and those words were absolutely not intended to humiliate any particular person," she said. "Nevertheless, it was clearly wrong of me, as an elder, to say something that would hurt a younger singer's feelings."

Shim said she had conveyed her sincere apologies to Kim and her family. "In the process, I heard from her father that Da-hyun had performed 'A Million Roses' at a concert, playing the piano as she sang," she said. "When I thought about how much she must have practiced, my eyes welled up."

"Through this apology, I also offer my deepest regrets and apologies to Da-hyun, her fan club, and everyone who worked hard to organize the event," Shim said. "I am truly sorry to all the attendees who came to enjoy the performance that day at the trot festival. I sincerely ask for your generous forgiveness."

The controversy began Sunday, when Shim took the stage at the 10th Jinan Highland Trot Festival in Jinan-gun, North Jeolla Province, and abruptly directed her remarks at Kim, who had performed before her. Referring to Kim as "the woman who sang before me," Shim said, "She seems like a young lady who doesn't know what singing is, or what life is." She went on to say the performance "made my head spin," asked whether Kim's manager was in the audience, and demanded, "Don't send that performer on before me again. I feel completely dizzy and like I'm about to collapse." Shim added, "Singing is not something you do carelessly. Music that comforts people who have come here — having experienced life and hardship — is not something that comes easily." A video of the remarks spread online and sparked controversy.

Kim is the third daughter of Kim Bong-gon, known as the "Cheonghakdong tutor." A high school student in her seventh year as a trot singer, Kim finished runner-up on MBN's "Voice Trot" in 2020 and placed third on MBN's "Hyeonyeok Gawang" in 2023.


paq@heraldcorp.com