"When her mind keeps coming and going, who would put her onstage?" Yoo Tong fiercely blasts Sim Soo-bong over "publicly humiliating a junior singer"

[Financial News] Singer Sim Soo-bong, 71, sparked controversy after publicly targeting junior singer Kim Dahyun, 17, from a festival stage. Actor Yoo Tong, 69, launched a series of harsh attacks on Sim Soo-bong, calling the incident "a self-destructive act and a death sentence for the entertainment industry." What had appeared to end with a direct apology and reconciliation between the parties has escalated into a war of words among senior and established figures in the entertainment industry, triggering another controversy online.
On the 23rd, Yoo Tong posted a video titled 'Sim Soo-bong: Death Sentence in the Entertainment Industry' on his YouTube channel, 'Yoo Tong TV.'
In the video, Yoo Tong began by saying, "There has been heated debate over senior colleague Sim Soo-bong, but there is no need for that," adding, "She has said herself that she suffers from an unusual illness, and she took the stage that day with assistance." He continued, "At an age in her mid-70s, which is not young, she was in a state where she kept forgetting things, and I heard she was shocked by what she herself said," claiming, "That is what comes with age, so we have no choice but to understand her."
Yoo Tong then raised the question of whether Sim Soo-bong could continue performing and intensified his criticism. "When her mind keeps coming and going like that, who would put her onstage? Live broadcasts, in particular, are absolutely out of the question," he said. He added, "This incident is a 'death sentence for the entertainment industry' and a 'self-destructive act' imposed not by the people of South Korea, but by Sim Soo-bong herself." He continued, "It is such a shame because she is a singer-songwriter with a heavenly voice. From now on, the singer Sim Soo-bong will remain a memory in our eyes."
Earlier, at the 10th Jinan Highland Trot Festival held in Jinan County, North Jeolla Province, on the 20th, Sim Soo-bong made blunt remarks targeting Kim Dahyun, who had performed immediately before her. She said, "The young lady seems not to know what singing is or what life is," and, "Please never let that performer go on before me again," among other things, drawing fierce criticism. After repeated accusations that she had publicly humiliated a minor junior singer in front of an audience, Kim Dahyun was reportedly in tears at the scene.
As public criticism mounted, Sim Soo-bong issued an official statement and apologized, saying, "I did not intend to humiliate anyone in particular, but as an adult, I have no excuse, no matter how much I apologize, for hurting my junior's feelings." She later reportedly apologized to Kim Dahyun by phone, offered words of comfort, and even expressed her willingness to give her a song. Kim Dahyun also appeared to put the conflict to rest through social media, saying, "My teacher apologized directly and offered warm encouragement. I will take time to compose myself."
However, even after the parties reached an agreement, Yoo Tong joined the public criticism, using extreme expressions such as "death sentence" while citing Sim Soo-bong's health and advanced age. Online users are divided, with some saying he "appropriately called out the senior singer's careless words and actions," while others argue that "he made excessively personal attacks by bringing up a fellow entertainer's health and age after the situation had already been resolved."
[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter