87-year-old actress Kim Young-ok publicly apologized on the July 5, 2025 episode of MBN's Sokpuri Show Dongchimi for an offhand remark she made about her daughter-in-law, who is a doctor.
The episode, titled "Living With a Proud Husband Turns Out to Be Useless," examined the familiar dynamic in which mothers-in-law credit sons for the good and blame daughters-in-law for the bad. During a roundtable on that theme, Kim shared a personal anecdote.
Kim recalled, "My grandchild developed acne. I said, 'Neither my children nor I have ever had skin trouble, but he has severe acne.'"
She added, "My daughter-in-law is a doctor. She didn't say anything at the time, but later I realized how hurt she must have felt."
An apology and moment of reflection
"Those careless words still bother me," Kim said. "It was just something I said. Even though I try to be considerate, I make mistakes like this." She showed genuine remorse and used the broadcast to address her daughter-in-law directly: "I couldn't bring myself to say it before. I'll say it now — I'm sorry. It was just something I said."
The on-air apology allowed Kim to publicly unburden feelings she had not voiced to her daughter-in-law, and viewers were moved by the image of an 87-year-old actress acknowledging her mistake and apologizing.
Context: other cast members' anecdotes
Other cast members shared similar stories. Kim Tae-hoon described a grandmother who praises a grandson by saying, "He doesn't seem dumb; he speaks well — he takes after his grandfather," yet when the boy misbehaves she wonders, "Where did this temperament come from if it's not from our family?" and points the finger at the daughter-in-law.
The apology made immediate headlines, sparking conversation about Kim's candidness and readiness to apologize. Some outlets summarized the moment with lines like, "Words spoken are brief, but words that remain in the heart last longer," highlighting the humility and thoughtfulness the veteran actress displayed.
Media commentary framed the exchange as a small but revealing example of family tensions — how words can precede expressions, and memories can outlast apologies. They also noted that Kim Young-ok continues to work across dramas, films and variety shows, and that MBN's Sokpuri Show Dongchimi resonates with viewers by unpacking everyday and intergenerational emotions.
