South Korean actor Kim Min-kyo offered an emotional glimpse into his turbulent family history during a heartfelt appearance on the June 18 episode of Zzanbro Shin Dong-yup, a YouTube talk show hosted by veteran comedian Shin Dong-yup.

Joined by fellow SNL Korea cast members Kim Won-hoon and Ji Ye-eun, Kim shared his family's journey from luxury to hardship, revealing how his once-wealthy father, who owned a general hospital, lost everything and later became a Buddhist monk.

"His father owned a general hospital. They had a chauffeur and staff," Shin said during the segment, setting the stage for Kim's story. "But after being scammed, his health collapsed, and he eventually became a monk."

Kim confirmed the story, explaining that his father passed away years ago, but not before dedicating the latter part of his life to monasticism. "Yes, my father passed away, but he did become a monk," Kim said.

"I started living in a shantytown while I was in university."
Kim recalled that before the fall, his family lived in a 1,500-pyeong (about 5,300 square meters) mansion.

But after being financially ruined by fraud, they lost their home and struggled to make ends meet. "We couldn't even pay the bills," Kim said.

The most poignant part of the episode came when Kim described how he learned of his father's decision to abandon his parental role. "During my first military leave, my mom told me Dad had become a monk," he shared.

"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 nearly 15 years later—when his father was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer—that the two reconnected. "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."

Kim described their final shared moments with quiet emotion. "For his birthday, I took him to a bathhouse and scrubbed his back. I think about that a lot," he said. "At the time, I couldn't understand his choice, but now, as a married man, I get it."

Since debuting in the 1998 film Seongcheol, Kim Min-kyo has built a solid career as a character actor, earning praise for his comedic timing and poignant performances.

His candid portrayal on the show provided his fans with a glimpse of the personal struggles lurking behind his public success.

The interview has gone viral, garnering over 2.3 million views in a day, and viewers have rallied around it, admiring Kim's strength.