South Korean stars are being more open about their health concerns and also to raise awareness, especially those with lesser-known conditions. From Park So Dam to Yoo Ah In and more, these celebrities chose to reveal and inform the public about their health status after being diagnosed with a disorder or chronic illness.
Park So Dam
The "Parasite" star is a recent celebrity who surprised the fans with her revelations regarding her health status.
Through Park So Dam's agency, Artist Company, the management shared that the actress has been diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and is currently recovering from the surgery.
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In a statement, the label revealed that the 30-year-old actress found out about it during her regular health examination and was advised by the doctor to undergo treatment.
Kim Woo Bin
His then agency, Sidus HQ, announced in 2017 that he was diagnosed with nasopharynx cancer, a type of disease in which "malignant cancer cells form within the nasopharynx tissues.
Fortunately, the doctors were able to detect and advise the actor for immediate treatment.
Due to Kim Woo Bin's illness, he had a two-year hiatus to focus on his treatment and recovery.
Now, "The Heirs" star is healthy and in good shape with a slew of upcoming Kdramas and movies, including "Our Blues" with girlfriend, Shin Min Ah, dystopian series "Courier" and a new film "Alien + People."
Yoo Ah In
In 2017, fans were shocked after hearing that Yoo Ah In suffered from a chronic disease.
At the time, the actor's agency, United Artists Agency, revealed he was diagnosed with a bone tumor back in 2015 and also ruptured his shoulder muscle while on the set of his movie "Veteran" and "Tough as Iron."
Thankfully, his tumor was not severe enough to hinder his day-to-day activities, but it grew in size, leading him to military exemption.
Kim Bum
Through his management label, Kim Bum revealed that he suffered from a condition called degenerative arthritis, which is also similar to osteoarthritis.
It is a chronic disorder that weakens the cartilage and tissues surrounding a joint.
In 2018, King Kong Entertainment mentioned in a statement that the "Boys Over Flowers" star has a hereditary illness and has been receiving treatment since his early 20's.
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Moreover, the agency mentioned that Kim Bum overcame this through medication and exercise.
As for his mandatory military service, he was assigned to a public social worker position.
Years after the diagnosis, the actor is still active in showbiz with his recent Kdrama "Law School" and upcoming medical series with Hallyu star Rain in "The Ghost Doctor."
Uhm Jung Hwa
The singer-actress had to undergo an eight-year hiatus after her thyroid cancer diagnosis.
During her comeback, she bravely recalled the struggles she experienced, including getting surgery.
"Actually, I did not talk about this before I made this album. I thought, there might be problems if I revealed that I hurt my throat and so I just endured them by myself. A part of my vocal cords became paralyzed and I could not talk for eight months."
Moreover, Uhm Jung Hwa got honest and said she could not picture herself going on stage again.
Despite the obstacle, the actress has now recovered and is set to join the star-studded cast of the new Kdrama "Our Blues."
