On the morning of September 25th, the late Kim Soo-mi passed away at the age of 75. According to her son, Jeong Myung-ho, a director at Napalflower F&B, she passed away due to a diabetic shock. Known for taking care of her colleagues and younger entertainers during her lifetime, many people quietly accompanied her on her final journey, paying their respects.
In February, Kim Soo-mi appeared on tvN STORY’s “Chairman’s People,” where she shared a heartfelt conversation with her close junior, Shin Eun-kyung.
Kim Soo-mi mentioned, “She brought her son over to my house. We’ve shared a lot of history. When her son was little, he came to our house and we ate together, and I saw tears fall into his bowl. He said, ‘Teacher, I have to live for him.’ But eventually, she abandoned her son. I felt sorry for her.”
Shin Eun-kyung had been embroiled in controversy over accusations of neglecting her son, who suffered from hydrocephalus and gigantism. Her son’s biological grandmother later revealed that she had been raising him alone since Shin Eun-kyung’s divorce in 2007, despite Shin Eun-kyung having custody and parental rights.
The controversy grew when Shin Eun-kyung tearfully shared her story about her sick son on SBS’s “Healing Camp.” In response, Shin Eun-kyung explained, “My mother would bring him over, and we would visit the amusement park together. I didn’t regularly give her money for the child, but I did cover hospital expenses and nanny fees.”
Kim Soo-mi defended Shin Eun-kyung, saying, “They say she abandoned her child, but when I saw Eun-kyung, she was not like that. The media and panelists attacked her over one issue. I told them to stop spreading lies.”
Shin Eun-kyung then clarified, “Of course, I couldn’t visit every week or spend time on weekends like other moms. If no one helps with the child’s movements, it’s impossible. Without help, I couldn’t survive with him.”
Kim Soo-mi recalled, “I was worried that you might have bad intentions.” Shin Eun-kyung expressed, “If you hadn’t helped me during my hardest times, I wouldn’t be here today. When I thought it was all over, I held on, but when I finally let go, the next morning, your interview was released.”
Kim Soo-mi added, “I called the newsroom. I made sure they wouldn’t make a mistake. I asked to speak to a reporter or MC directly. I don’t lie. I spoke up because I wanted to protect the truth.”
She also shared, “After the call, there was a brief silence in the studio. I said, ‘You have a daughter, don’t you? From a daughter’s perspective, if this were true, I wouldn’t stay silent either. Please check.’ The next day, the article disappeared, and everything quieted down,” showing her strong support for Shin Eun-kyung and evoking a sense of warmth.
