Actor Under Fire for Neglecting Mother in Nursing Home

A well-known historical drama actor, referred to as A, is facing backlash after a recent broadcast revealed that he had abandoned his mother in a nursing home, leaving her with unpaid medical bills totaling approximately 13 million won. The story aired on SBS's 'Curious Story Y' on January 17, highlighting the plight of an elderly woman, identified by the pseudonym 최순남 (Choi Soon-nam), who was left without contact from her son. The nursing home is on the verge of closing due to financial difficulties, forcing residents to find new accommodations.

Choi Soon-nam's case was particularly alarming as her son had not been reachable for over a year, and the last phone call they had was a brief 18-second conversation on November 19. When asked about her son, she mentioned that he was busy and had told her to hang up, but she expressed feelings of fear and loneliness, stating, "I want to go home, but someone needs to come pick me up."

It was later revealed that her son is a prominent actor who debuted in the early 1980s and has appeared in numerous films and television dramas. The production team began investigating why he had cut off contact with his mother while leaving her in a nursing home facing closure.

Choi Soon-nam mentioned that her son was in the United States for business, but the last known location from his phone was in South Korea, raising further concerns. Additionally, it appeared that her pension was being funneled to her son, leaving her without state support due to the arrangement.

The nursing home director expressed frustration, stating that if the son had simply transferred his mother's pension account, she could have qualified for government assistance. Actor 이창훈 (Lee Chang-hoon) recalled that the actor in question was once quite popular, but he had not seen him in recent projects, leading to speculation about his whereabouts.

The production team connected Choi Soon-nam with a senior protection agency to ensure her safety. After the agency contacted her son, he claimed he could not visit due to debts related to the nursing home and mentioned suffering from panic disorder and depression, promising to repay the debts monthly.

The senior protection agency is working to reissue Choi Soon-nam's pension account to ensure she receives her benefits. They also indicated that they would refer the case for police investigation to determine if any abuse had occurred.

As the public speculates about the identity of the actor who has allegedly neglected his mother and taken her pension, concerns arise about the potential for witch hunts against innocent individuals. Many actors have been mentioned, leading to fears that unfounded accusations could harm those who are not involved.