Actor Jeong Il-woo (37) stated that he fulfilled alternative military service due to a diagnosis of a brain aneurysm.
On the 5th, during an appearance on KBS 1TV's "Morning Square," actor Jeong Il-woo said, "I was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm at 27. That disease is a reason for military exemption."
He explained, "It was a time when I was constantly pushing myself during my twenties, and the brakes were put on. I realized, 'I don't know how life will turn out,' and from that moment on, I began to reflect on myself. I've also been on the Santiago pilgrimage trail three times."
Jeong Il-woo revealed that he served alternative military service by caring for elderly dementia patients in a nursing home for two years, and through that time, he felt the emptiness and preciousness of life. He conveyed that rather than anxiety and impatience, his attitude has shifted to enjoying the present and taking things easy.
Regarding the reason he undertook alternative military service despite being exempt, Jeong Il-woo shared, "After being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and coming out of the hospital, I called my mother, and she told me, 'Il-woo, you still have to serve in the military,' which brought laughter."
He said, "As an actor, I need to continue my public activities, and I thought that if I hid due to this illness, I wouldn't be able to do anything, so I considered military service as a given."
He continued, "Currently, I am under follow-up management, and aside from occasional headaches, I am doing well," adding that he is leading a healthy life while managing his condition.