Sim Soo-bong, First Broadcast After Controversy—Emphasizing 'Empathy and Comfort' Without Mentioning Kim Da-hyun

Singer Sim Soo-bong, who received intense criticism for her public remarks toward junior singer Kim Da-hyun, appeared on a broadcast for the first time since the controversy to look back on her musical life. Marking her 48th anniversary since debut, she confessed on stage that music was the strength that allowed her to endure a weary life and expressed her intention to convey "empathy and comfort" to the audience. However, as this comes immediately after she was placed under public scrutiny for her sharp remarks toward a junior, the value of music and the message of comfort she emphasized carried a more complex meaning than usual.

Appearing on EBS 'EBS Space' broadcast on the 7th, Sim Soo-bong performed representative songs that have been loved by the public for a long time, such as 'Men Are Ships, Women Are Harbors', 'That Person Back Then', 'I Hate You', 'Binari', and 'A Million Roses'. She filled the stage with her unique tone and lyrical expression that remains unchanged over time, revealing the musical depth stemming from her long career.

She showcased not only her singing ability but also her instrumental skills. She demonstrated her qualities as a singer-songwriter by playing 'Flight of the Bumblebee' on the piano and picking up a guitar to sing 'My Beloved's Love'. She continued the performance by breathing with the audience through various songs, including 'I'll Hold You, I'll Hug You'. It was a stage that revealed the power of a singer who has built her musical world in her own way over a long period.

During the performance, she also opened up about personal pains endured through music. Sim Soo-bong said, "At every curve of life, music was a great strength, and because of music, I was able to endure the affairs of life." She continued, "Since my father passed away early when I was young, I lived lonely my whole life with a single mother. That is why loneliness is permeated in my songs." This part explains how her representative songs go beyond simple love songs to embrace emotions such as solitude, loss, and longing.

Sim Soo-bong chose 'empathy and comfort' as the emotion that permeates her music. She stated, "The color of my music is all one, which is 'empathy and comfort'," and added, "Even at this moment, I want to give empathy and comfort regarding a weary and sad life." While telling the story related to 'Rose of Sharon', she expressed her gratitude to fans, saying, "Thanks to that song, and your unchanging love which I needed most desperately, you saved me."

However, regardless of the musical achievement, this broadcast brought back the recent controversy. At the '10th Jinan Plateau Trot Festival' held in Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk on the 20th of last month, Sim Soo-bong publicly expressed her discomfort toward Kim Da-hyun, who had taken the stage before her. At the time, she said, "It seems like a young lady doesn't know what singing is or what life is," and "It was very difficult to listen to the song. Please do not send that player in front of me in the future." She added, "You shouldn't sing so carelessly. You must experience life and go through hardships."

As the remarks became known, criticism followed. Points were raised that the act of publicly criticizing a junior singer's character should be distinguished from the evaluation of music. In particular, remarks that seemed to discuss the qualification to sing based on life experience and hardship toward a junior on stage raised issues regarding generational hierarchy and senior-junior culture. The criticism was that the words of a senior with long experience and authority do not stop at personal impressions but can act as a significant burden to a junior, necessitating more caution.

As the controversy spread, Sim Soo-bong released an official apology the following day, the 21st. She admitted her mistake, saying, "I uttered words that went beyond common sense at an inappropriate moment. Even if I had ten mouths, I would have nothing to say." She continued to apologize, saying, "It was not intended to shame a specific person, but as an adult, it was clearly wrong to hurt the feelings of a junior singer." Kim Da-hyun later revealed that she had spoken directly with Sim Soo-bong on the phone, saying, "The teacher personally offered an apology and warm comfort. I will compose my heart well, so please do not worry." With the apology and communication between the parties, the controversy has entered a phase of calming down for now.

The 'empathy and comfort' emphasized by Sim Soo-bong in this broadcast explains the power held by music while simultaneously prompting a reflection on the senior-junior relationships in the pop culture industry. While it is important for an artist to melt long life experiences into their work, caution is needed when using one's own experience and aesthetics as a standard for another generation. This is because the criteria for judging the depth of a song are not necessarily found only in the amount of pain or the years of life experience. Young singers can also interpret songs with their own experiences and senses, and artistic differences should be handled through criticism and dialogue rather than public insults.

Sim Soo-bong is scheduled to meet the audience with her solo concert 'The Sim Soo-bong Show' at Baegun Art Hall in Wonju, Gangwon-do on the 31st. As a singer who has been loved by the public for a long time, the emotional resonance of her music remains an important asset. However, the task left by this controversy remains separate from her musical status. Just as those who sing on stage convey comfort to the audience, the message of 'empathy and comfort' will gain more persuasiveness when they can also show respect and consideration to the juniors standing on stage with them.

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