K-Stars Who Survived Cancer: Uhm Jung Hwa, Kim Woo Bin, More
Amid the glitz and glam of the entertainment industry, even top stars and celebrities deal with uncertainties, among which are unanticipated medical issues.
While some stars temporarily stepped away from the spotlight for personal reasons, other Korean celebrities opted to take a long hiatus from their careers to focus on recovery.
From Uhm Jung Hwa to Kim Woo Bin, here are 3 Korean actors who survived cancer.
Uhm Jung Hwa
Long before the hit K-drama "Doctor Cha," Uhm Jung Hwa made her debut in 1993 as a solo singer.
Apart from her long list of studio albums, she also sang various K-drama OSTs. This includes "Marriage Is a Crazy Thing," as well as the 2002 K-drama "Wife" and "You Are Too Much" in 2017, where she was also a cast member.
However, amid her continued fame, Uhm Jung Hwa shocked the public after revealing that she was diagnosed with the early stages of thyroid cancer back in 2010. She immediately underwent surgery to address the issue and successfully recovered after receiving treatments.
According to a media outlet, only a few people knew about her condition at the time. Besides her family, the head of her agency knew about her health status.
Years later, she looked back at the ordeal. During a TV guest appearance for "Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook" in 2017, she recalled the struggles that she went through.
"One part of my vocal cords became paralyzed, and I couldn't talk for eight months," she said.
Now, she is back to business and has been doing K-dramas since her return in 2021 for "Our Blues."
Kim Woo Bin
Like Uhm Jung Hwa, Kim Woo Bin is also among the most talked-about Korean celebrities lately, thanks to his hit Netflix series "Black Knight.
But prior to this heightened fame, he had to put his career on hold after being diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer.
Back in May 2017, his agency announced that he would be taking a brief break to focus on his health.
Eventually, he made a full recovery and made his first public appearance as a presenter at the 40th Blue Dragon Movie Awards.
IN CASE YOU MISSED: Kim Woo Bin's True Personality Gains Attention - Here's How the 'Black Knight' Star is With Co-Stars
Meanwhile, he starred in his first on-screen project after six years of hiatus, joining the cast of the sci-fi movie "Alienoid." It was then followed by "Our Blues" with real-life girlfriend Shin Min Ah, and "Black Knight" a year later.
Park So Dam
Another K-drama star who recovered from cancer is Park So Dam.
The "Parasite" star announced recently that she is recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer back in 2021.
According to her agency, it was discovered during the annual checkup. At the time, she was also working on an upcoming movie. In one interview, she mentioned the anxiety she felt due to her worsening health.
"While filming, I didn't know my body was in pain. I just thought it was burnout. It was the first time I felt afraid to go on set," she said, adding that she felt that her body is sending her a signal but thought that it was just a "mental issue."
Thankfully, she recovered from thyroid cancer and even had two films, "Phantom" and "Special Delivery."
READ MORE: Park So Dam Instagram Reveals Hate Messages Received From a Netizen
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