Son of Notable Actor Abandons Elderly Mother in Nursing Home
In a shocking revelation on SBS's '궁금한 이야기 Y' (Curious Story Y), it was disclosed that a son, who is a well-known historical drama actor, has left his elderly mother in a nursing home facing closure. The episode aired on January 17, 2025, and highlighted the distressing situation of a grandmother, referred to as 최순남 (Choi Soon-nam), who has been abandoned by her son. The nursing home is struggling financially and is set to close, forcing residents to find new accommodations. However, due to the lack of consent from the guardians, it is difficult to discharge the residents, including 최순남, who has reportedly owed over 13 million won in nursing fees for more than a year.
The last contact with her son was on November 19, 2024, during an 18-second phone call, where he told her to hang up because he was busy. When asked if she felt hurt by his absence, she expressed understanding, saying, "I live here and he is busy, so it's okay." Yet, she later admitted feeling scared and wished to go home, needing someone to pick her up.
The twist in the story is that her son is a former public talent 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 on the brink of closure.
Upon visiting his residence, the crew found no signs of life, and local café staff reported he hadn't been seen for months. A convenience store owner recognized the mother, while a nearby restaurant owner noted that even when the son lived with her, he was often out and about.
최순남, who has lost her memory, inquired about her son's whereabouts, stating he was in the U.S. for business but would occasionally visit, which she found comforting. However, the last known location from his phone was in Korea, raising further concerns.
Additionally, it appears that her pension, earned from her teaching career, has been given to her son, leaving her without state protection due to the financial arrangements. The nursing home director expressed frustration, stating that if her pension account were transferred, she could qualify for assistance from another facility.
Colleague actor 이창훈 (Lee Chang-hoon) reminisced about the actor's past popularity, recalling a time when they joked about working together, but noted that he has not been seen in recent productions, making his current situation even more mysterious.
