Shim Soo-bong sparks controversy with public criticism of junior singer Kim Da-hyun, 54 years her junior… Apologizes a day later, saying she "slipped her tongue"

on
Singer Shim Soo-bong (71) apologized within a day after her remarks directed at fellow trot singer Kim Da-hyun (17), who is 54 years her junior, sparked controversy on stage at a local festival.Shim Soo-bong took the stage at the 2026 Jinan Plateau Trot Festival held in Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk on the 20th. Referring to Kim Da-hyun, who finished her performance right before her, she said, The woman who sang before me made my head spin.On stage, Shim Soo-bong told the organizers, It seems like this young lady doesnt know what singing is or what life is, and added, Please do not put that performer before me in the future. She continued, Singing is not something to be taken lightly, and music that comforts those who have experienced life and hardships is not that easy.As footage of the event containing these remarks spread online via platforms such as YouTube, criticism regarding the appropriateness of her comments was raised. Some netizens reacted by stating that the way she publicly mentioned a junior singer in her teens was inappropriate. Criticism continued, particularly regarding the expressions used to refer to Kim Da-hyun, such as girl, young lady, and player. As the controversy spread, access to Shim Soo-bongs official website was temporarily disrupted due to excessive traffic.As the controversy persisted, Shim Soo-bong released an official apology through her agency on the 21st. She apologized for her remarks, stating, I literally made a slip of the tongue on stage in front of a large audience. Regarding the background of the comments, she explained that she had been contemplating the music industry and was under stress due to the noise at the venue that day.She also stated, I have no words to express my remorse for the fact that I blurted out words that defied common sense at an inappropriate moment at a trot festival where everyone should be laughing and enjoying themselves.Shim Soo-bong reiterated her apology, saying, I did not know exactly who the singer performing before me was, and I absolutely did not say it to humiliate a specific person, but added, As an adult, it was clearly wrong to say words that hurt the feelings of a junior singer.** Shim Soo-bong also revealed that she personally conveyed her apologies to Kim Da-hyun and her family. She shared her feelings, stating that during the process of delivering the apology, she heard from Kim Da-hyuns father, Kim Bong-gon, that Kim Da-hyun had sung her song A Million Roses while playing the piano at a concert. She remarked, My eyes welled up with tears thinking about how much she must have practiced.Finally, while extending her apologies to the fan club, event organizers, and audience, she clarified that the Jinan Red Ginseng Festival, a local festival for farmers, has no connection to this trot event.Kim Da-hyun, the subject of this controversy, is the youngest daughter of Kim Bong-gon, known as the Cheonghak-dong Headmaster. She is a high school trot singer who has ranked highly in various trot competition programs, including MBNs Voice Trot, TV Chosuns Miss Trot 2, and MBNs King of Singers. After making a name for herself through the 1978 College Song Festival, Shim Soo-bong has been active for a long time, releasing numerous hit songs such as That Person Back Then and Men Are Ships, Women Are Harbors.star

Singer Shim Soo-bong (71) apologized within a day after her remarks directed at fellow trot singer Kim Da-hyun (17), who is 54 years her junior, sparked controversy on stage at a local festival.

Shim Soo-bong took the stage at the '2026 Jinan Plateau Trot Festival' held in Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk on the 20th. Referring to Kim Da-hyun, who finished her performance right before her, she said, "The woman who sang before me made my head spin."

On stage, Shim Soo-bong told the organizers, "It seems like this young lady doesn't know what singing is or what life is," and added, "Please do not put that performer before me in the future." She continued, "Singing is not something to be taken lightly, and music that comforts those who have experienced life and hardships is not that easy."

As footage of the event containing these remarks spread online via platforms such as YouTube, criticism regarding the appropriateness of her comments was raised. Some netizens reacted by stating that the way she publicly mentioned a junior singer in her teens was inappropriate. Criticism continued, particularly regarding the expressions used to refer to Kim Da-hyun, such as "girl," "young lady," and "player." As the controversy spread, access to Shim Soo-bong’s official website was temporarily disrupted due to excessive traffic.

As the controversy persisted, Shim Soo-bong released an official apology through her agency on the 21st. She apologized for her remarks, stating, "I literally made a slip of the tongue on stage in front of a large audience." Regarding the background of the comments, she explained that she had been contemplating the music industry and was under stress due to the noise at the venue that day.

She also stated, "I have no words to express my remorse for the fact that I blurted out words that defied common sense at an inappropriate moment at a trot festival where everyone should be laughing and enjoying themselves."

Shim Soo-bong reiterated her apology, saying, "I did not know exactly who the singer performing before me was, and I absolutely did not say it to humiliate a specific person," but added, "As an adult, it was clearly wrong to say words that hurt the feelings of a junior singer."

** Shim Soo-bong also revealed that she personally conveyed her apologies to Kim Da-hyun and her family. She shared her feelings, stating that during the process of delivering the apology, she heard from Kim Da-hyun's father, Kim Bong-gon, that Kim Da-hyun had sung her song "A Million Roses" while playing the piano at a concert. She remarked, "My eyes welled up with tears thinking about how much she must have practiced."

Finally, while extending her apologies to the fan club, event organizers, and audience, she clarified that the "Jinan Red Ginseng Festival," a local festival for farmers, has no connection to this trot event.

Kim Da-hyun, the subject of this controversy, is the youngest daughter of Kim Bong-gon, known as the "Cheonghak-dong Headmaster." She is a high school trot singer who has ranked highly in various trot competition programs, including MBN's "Voice Trot," TV Chosun's "Miss Trot 2," and MBN's "King of Singers." After making a name for herself through the 1978 College Song Festival, Shim Soo-bong has been active for a long time, releasing numerous hit songs such as "That Person Back Then" and "Men Are Ships, Women Are Harbors."

star