Actor Kim Min-kyo Reflects on Family’s Riches-to-Rags Journey and Father’s Life as a Monk
On a recent episode of Zzanbro Shin Dong-yup, which aired on June 18, actor Kim Min-kyo joined fellow SNL Korea castmates Kim Won-hoon and Ji Ye-eun in a candid conversation that has since garnered over 2.3 million views. What began as light banter about Kim’s love of accessories took a heartfelt turn when Shin Dong-yup revealed Kim’s once-affluent background. “His father owned a general hospital. They had a chauffeur and staff,” said Shin. “But after being scammed, his health collapsed, and he eventually became a monk.”
Kim confirmed, “Yes, my father passed away, but he did become a monk. I started living in a shantytown while I was in university.” Once the son of a hospital director with a 1,500-pyeong mansion (approximately 5,300 m²), Kim’s life changed drastically after the family fell victim to fraud. They were soon unable to pay bills and lost their home.
Kim recounted the moment his father renounced his role as a parent: “During my first military leave, my mom told me Dad had become a monk. When I visited, he told me, ‘Don’t call me Dad anymore. Call me monk. Only visit occasionally.’ So I didn’t see him for a long time.”
It wasn’t until 15 years later, when his father was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, that Kim reunited with him. “From then on, I visited him every day,” Kim said. “Doctors gave him three months, but he lived more than three years. He even came to my wedding.”
Reflecting on their last moments together, Kim shared, “For his birthday, I took him to a bathhouse and scrubbed his back. I think about that a lot. At the time, I couldn’t understand his choice, but now, as a married man, I get it.”
Known for his powerful performances in SNL Korea and a variety of supporting roles since his 1998 debut in Seongcheol, Kim’s raw honesty offered fans a moving glimpse into the personal challenges that shaped his life.
