On the morning of September 25, the late Kim Soo-mi passed away at the age of 75. According to her son, Jeong Myung-ho, director of Napalflower F&B, she died due to diabetic shock. Known for taking care of her colleagues and young entertainers throughout her life, many people silently 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 candid conversation with her darling junior, Shin Eun-kyung.
Kim Soo-mi mentioned, “He brought his son to my house. We 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, “Master, I must live for him.” But in the end, he abandoned his 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 raised him alone after 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’ “Healing Camp.” In response, Shin Eun-kyung explained, “My mother would bring him here and we would visit the amusement park together. I didn’t regularly give her money for the baby, but I covered the hospital bills and the nanny’s fees.
Kim Soo-mi defended Shin Eun-kyung, saying“They say he abandoned his daughter, but when I saw Eun-kyung, that wasn’t the case. The media and speakers attacked her for one issue. I told them to stop spreading lies.”
Shin Eun-kyung then clarified“Obviously I couldn’t come visit her every week or spend time on weekends like other mums. If no one helps with the child’s movements, it is impossible. Without help, I couldn’t survive with him.
Kim Soo-mi reminded, “I was afraid you might have bad intentions.” Shin Eun-kyung expressed, “If you hadn’t helped me in the most difficult moments, 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 editorial team. I made sure they didn’t make any mistakes. I asked to speak directly to a reporter or MC. I’m not lying. I spoke out because I wanted to protect the truth.”
He also shared, “After the call in the studio there was a short silence. I said, ‘You have a daughter, right? From a daughter’s perspective, if this were true, I wouldn’t stay quiet either. Please check.’ The next day the article disappeared and everything calmed down.” showing his strong support for Shin Eun-kyung and evoking a sense of warmth.
