Actor Im Soo-hyang candidly shared her feelings about the "gold spoon" rumors surrounding her, and with the family background mentioned on MBC's "The Antarctic Chef," interest in Song Ji-hyo's family history has also resurfaced.
Recently, a video titled "It's okay to take a short break" was released on the YouTube channel "Im Soo-hyang heavy turtle and crane." In the video, Im Soo-hyang took out a Blumarine padded jacket she wore in middle and high school and confessed, "My family was somewhat wealthy when I was young. My mother bought me things like this." After a scene showing her leaving in a supercar was also revealed, the "Im Soo-hyang gold spoon" rumor quickly spread online.
Im Soo-hyang said she was embarrassed, "Someone distorted my remark calling it 'showing off,' and suddenly I became a chaebol who drives a Ferrari or Lamborghini." She went on to draw a line under exaggerated wealth rumors, saying, "It's true my family was well-off when I was young, but after my debut my parents' business declined and my father's health worsened, so for more than 10 years I was the practical head of the household." Her parents were reportedly worried that the public perceived them as wealthy when that was not the case.
In this context, the family background of Im Soo-hyang was mentioned again on the 17th episode of MBC's "The Antarctic Chef," attracting attention. During a food evaluation, Paik Jong-won asked, "Isn't Ms. Soo-hyang an elite in taste?" Im Soo-hyang replied, "My parents ran a buffet in Busan. I sampled a lot of food when I was young," surprising viewers. Some reacted, "She must be a gold spoon after all," but Im Soo-hyang has repeatedly clarified that she was only briefly well-off in the past and later was responsible for supporting her family.
Another star labeled a "gold spoon" alongside Im Soo-hyang is Song Ji-hyo. Song Ji-hyo's hometown is Pohang, and her father is known as the head of a shipping company that operates a 382-ton large passenger ship, earning her the nickname "Pohang ship spoon."
Last year, a video titled "Chobok is just an excuse" was released on the YouTube channel "TteunTteun," and Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Seok-jin and Haha appeared and mentioned Song Ji-hyo's family. Yoo Jae-suk said, "There are rumors that your family is very wealthy because Ji-hyo runs a passenger ship business in Tongyeong," and Haha joked, "She ranks in the top five celebrity gold spoons." Feeling embarrassed, Song Ji-hyo explained, "That is my parents' retirement fund. They used to run a shabu-shabu restaurant, and now they run a ferry business that goes to Yokjido."
Earlier on SBS's Running Man, Song Ji-hyo revealed for the first time in 13 years since her debut that "my parents run a passenger ship business in Tongyeong." The other members were so surprised they asked, "Are all the ships in Tongyeong owned by Song Ji-hyo's family?" and said, "She's the daughter of Tongyeong."
Her father is the head of Y Shipping, which operates a ferry connecting Tongyeong's Junghwa Port–Yokjido–Yeonhwado, and runs a large 382-ton passenger ship capable of carrying vehicles. Song Ji-hyo's aunt is known as a veteran haenyeo who worked the waters off Pohang, adding to interest in Song Ji-hyo's childhood spent by the sea.
The two have attracted attention for coming from well-off families. But Im Soo-hyang said sincerely, "I don't want to be misunderstood because of past images," and Song Ji-hyo also drew a line at the exaggerated "gold spoon" label, saying, "Everything is my parents' retirement." Nevertheless, whenever their parents' occupations and backgrounds are revealed, netizens respond, "Both of them really were gold spoons," "It's more impressive they made their own way," and "I was surprised because it's different from their image."
[Photo] OSEN DB, YouTube
[OSEN]