Remembering Kim Hyung-eun on the 18th Anniversary of His Passing

The 18th anniversary of the late Kim Hyung-eun's passing brings a wave of sorrow as fans and colleagues remember the talented comedian. Kim tragically lost his life in a car accident in 2006 while traveling for a performance with fellow comedians Jang Kyung-hee and Shim Jin-hwa. After suffering a cervical spine fracture and undergoing a month of treatment, he seemed to be recovering. However, he succumbed to a heart attack caused by internal bleeding in January 2007 at the young age of 25.

The circumstances surrounding Kim's death sparked controversy. In January 2008, Shim Jin-hwa claimed on KBS2's 'Current Affairs 60 Minutes' that Kim had died unjustly, alleging that his agency was responsible for his death due to excessive scheduling. She stated, "If the agency hadn't pushed for such a tight schedule, Hyung-eun would still be alive. The vehicle was speeding over 200 km/h during the accident, and even if the driver was going 220 km/h, the speedometer only showed 200 km/h."

Shim also expressed that during their active years, they worked without proper contracts, likening them to 'money-making slaves,' and revealed that Kim's family did not receive the 100 million won insurance payout from the accident.

The agency at the time strongly denied these claims, labeling them as distorted accusations.

Since Kim's passing in 2007, Shim Jin-hwa and other comedians have made it a tradition to visit his columbarium every year to honor his memory. Shim, who was particularly close to Kim, has taken the lead in bringing his parents to visit him annually, showing her continued affection and remembrance.

Last year, Shim revealed that she and her fellow comedians had fully paid for the maintenance fees of Kim's columbarium, which garnered attention. She noted, "I have more photos with his parents than with Hyung-eun himself."

Kim Jae-woo reflected on their 20-year journey in comedy, stating, "We were just kids when we started, and now we are real adults, some of us parents and others carrying memories of Hyung-eun in our hearts."

Additionally, Shim Jin-hwa organized a celebration for Kim's father's 90th birthday, which was attended by Kim's former colleagues, including comedian Kim Won-hyo.

Kim Hyung-eun debuted as a comedian in 2003 through SBS's 7th open recruitment and gained popularity as part of the 'Beautiful Three' alongside Shim Jin-hwa and Jang Kyung-hee on SBS's 'Laughing Corner.'