"I'm So Exhausted I Feel Like I'm About to Collapse": Sim Soo-bong Publicly Criticizes Kim Dahyun After Her Performance

[Financial News] Singer Sim Soo-bong, 71, is facing controversy after publicly criticizing Kim Dahyun, 17, who performed earlier at a local festival. Sim Soo-bong and Kim Dahyun appeared on stage at the 10th Jinan Highland Trot Festival, held in Jinan-gun, North Jeolla Province, on the 20th.
Kim Dahyun performed first that day, followed immediately by Sim Soo-bong.
After singing two songs, Sim Soo-bong pointed to Kim Dahyun, who had performed earlier, and said, "the woman who sang before me." She continued, "She made my head dizzy. Is her manager here by any chance?" She also said, "She seems like a young woman who doesn't know what a song is or what life is."
Sim Soo-bong continued speaking toward the backstage area. She said, "Listening to her singing was so difficult for me that I have to talk about it in front of all of you. Please don't put that performer on before me again," adding, "I'm so dizzy right now that I feel like I'm about to collapse."
Sim Soo-bong continued criticizing Kim Dahyun's singing. She said, "Singing isn't something you can do so carelessly," and added, "Music that comforts people who have experienced life and hardships after coming here is not that easy." She continued, "I'm having such a hard time right now that I have no choice but to confess this to all of you. Please forgive me."
Sim Soo-bong then continued the performance by singing the songs she had prepared.
However, it was not confirmed which aspect of Kim Dahyun's singing Sim Soo-bong took issue with. Kim Dahyun completed her performance without any major mistakes that day and received a positive response from the audience.
Netizens generally reacted negatively to Sim Soo-bong's public criticism. Comments included, "Why would she humiliate her like that in public?" "What did Kim Dahyun do wrong? What happened backstage?" and "She's young enough to be your granddaughter, yet that was an unadult-like lecture."
Kim Dahyun is the third daughter of Kim Bong-gon, known as the "Cheonghak-dong schoolmaster." She is currently a high school student and trot singer in her seventh year since debut. She finished as the runner-up on Maeil Broadcasting Network (MBN)'s "Voice Trot" in 2020 and placed third on MBN's "The Best K-Trot Singer" in 2023.
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter