Sim Soo Bong apologizes for remarks toward Kim Da Hyun

As singer Sim Soo Bong apologizes for recent controversial remarks made toward junior singer Kim Da Hyun on stage, the turbulent trajectory of her life is once again drawing public attention.

Performing at the 10th Jinan Plateau Trot Festival held in Jinan County, Jeonbuk on the 20th, Sim found herself at the center of controversy after making remarks that seemed to target Kim, who is 55 years her junior and had performed immediately before her. At the time, she stated, "It made my head dizzy. It seems this young lady doesn't know what singing is or what life is," and "Please do not send that performer in front of me again," drawing criticism from the live audience and the public.

As the controversy spread, Sim issued an official apology through her agency the following day. She admitted her remarks on the local festival stage were clearly a "slip of the tongue," explaining the cause was stress due to extreme noise at the venue. She bowed her head, stating, "I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths, as I uttered words that deviated from common sense at an inappropriate moment," and moved to resolve the situation by conveying direct apologies to Kim and her family.

Along with this, public attention is turning toward the tumultuous personal history Sim has shared through past broadcasts. She previously confessed to a period of recuperation after being diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called neuroinflammation around the age of 16, which required her to stay away from loud sounds. She also faced significant hardships since childhood, including a risk of blindness due to misunderstandings and verbal abuse stemming from her condition.

Furthermore, the aftermath of the 1979 10·26 incident, which she faced immediately after her spectacular debut with "The Man from Back Then" following her participation in the MBC College Music Festival in 1977, shook her life to its core. In past broadcasts, Sim revealed that she was forcibly confined to a psychiatric hospital for nearly a month simply because she was present at the scene of the incident. She disclosed experiencing human rights violations, such as being forcibly injected with medication despite pleading that she was not mentally ill. Additionally, she shared the shocking memory of her husband being taken away and subjected to harsh treatment, including electric shock torture, while she had to listen to those agonizing sounds from the room next door.

Following this, due to restrictions on her broadcasting activities, she had to make a living by performing at night clubs. However, she achieved a dramatic comeback in 1984 through the masterpiece "Men Are Ships, Women Are Harbors," leaving a significant mark on Korean popular music history. Sim's recent honest admission and apology for her slip of the tongue on stage are prompting a re-examination of the heavy footsteps of a legendary artist who has lived through the massive tragedies of Korean modern history and personal existential wounds.