Historical Drama Star Faces Outrage for Neglecting Dementia-Stricken Mother’s Nursing Fees and Cutting Contact

On the January 17th broadcast of SBS’s “Curious Stories Y,” a heartbreaking story was revealed about an elderly woman who could not leave a nursing home on the verge of shutting down.
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Heartbreaking Wait: Unpaid Nursing Fees & Son’s Disappearance
The story centered on two elderly women, Yoon Mi-ja (a pseudonym) and Choi Soon-nam (a pseudonym), who had been close friends at the nursing home. They had many things in common, such as both having worked in education and having only one child. However, after living together for two and a half years, they were facing separation due to the closure of the facility.
The problem was that Choi Soon-nam’s nursing home fees had been overdue for over a year, and there had been no contact from her family. The nursing home director revealed, “1.3 million won remains unpaid, but the bigger issue is the grandmother’s living situation.”
Even more heartbreaking was the fact that Choi Soon-nam had repeatedly written down her son’s contact information in an attempt to not forget, keeping her phone charged while waiting for his call. A local restaurant owner testified, “The grandmother kept waiting for her son outside the home, constantly calling him.”
Although Choi Soon-nam had said her son was in the U.S., it was confirmed that Park’s phone was accessed in South Korea.

The Son’s Failed Career, Debt, and Withholding His Mother’s Pension
Park had once gained popularity in historical dramas for playing roles as a ‘death specialist,’ but suddenly disappeared from the public eye. According to his acquaintances, Park tried to start a second career in the food industry, but after his business failed, he was left with debt. He later worked at a health supplement company but reportedly resigned from that position as well.
Actor Lee Chang-hoon recalled, “He was quite a well-known actor at the time. We joked about working together, but since there was only one leading role, it was difficult to meet.”
An even more shocking revelation was that Park had been receiving his mother’s teaching pension, which left Choi Soon-nam without any national support. The nursing home director stated, “Park never sent the nursing fees on time. The last payment was 5 million won, but after that, no further payments were made.”
Late Explanation, Police Investigation to Begin
The production team connected the case to an elderly abuse specialist institution, considering it to be abandonment or neglect. Park was later contacted and explained, “I avoided the nursing home’s calls because of the overdue fees. I have difficulty communicating due to panic disorder and depression, but I will pay it off monthly.”
The elderly protection agency took action to reissue Choi Soon-nam’s bank book so she could receive her pension directly. They also stated that they would investigate Park’s actions to determine if they amounted to abuse, and a police investigation would follow.