Actor Song Seung-hwan delivered an update about continuing to live and perform despite deteriorating vision, leaving a deep impression.
On the night of the 10th, on MBN 'Kim Ju-ha's Day & Night', Song Seung-hwan said he has been classified as visually impaired grade 4 due to macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. He explained his vision status, saying, "It's not that I can't see at all; I can only make out shapes and contours as if through fog," and drew a line on speculation that stress from preparing for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics was the cause by saying, "I have had night blindness since I was young," and "You can't attribute it to a single event."
The secret to still being able to appear on stage after his vision declined significantly was thorough preparation. Song Seung-hwan said, "I always record practice sessions on camera," and "I watch the videos and memorize everything, including the partner's facial expressions, movement paths, positions and gestures." He said that although he cannot see the co-actor's expressions during actual performances, he matches his breathing using information memorized through repeated practice.
Upon hearing this, Oh Man-seok said, "When you watch him on stage you can't tell at all that his eyes aren't working," and expressed respect, saying, "He even remembers movement paths and motions more precisely." Anchor Kim Ju-ha also expressed surprise, saying, "Don't you have to memorize not just the lines but the situations and positions as well?" Song Seung-hwan calmly replied, "Theater isn't something you rehearse once or twice and then go on stage; you rehearse repeatedly for one or two months," and said, "It becomes second nature after doing it, so it's not as hard as you might think."
An unexpected twist was also revealed. Song Seung-hwan surprised the cast by saying, "Right after I was classified as visually impaired grade 4, I scored a hole-in-one." He added, "Earlier this year when I went to Bangkok, I scored another hole-in-one." He laughed, saying, "The ball looks blurry, but in golf the club head just has to pass the ball accurately," and, "I don't even do a head-up. Since I can't see well anyway, I just focus on the ball and hit it, and people nearby said it went in." He joked, "My eyes got worse but my golf actually got a bit better."
After the broadcast, internet users reacted with comments such as, "A true pro overcomes it with preparation even if they can't see," "I was amazed by the comment that he memorizes expressions and movement paths," "It's incredible to score a hole-in-one despite being classified as visually impaired grade 4," and "His calm attitude makes it more moving."
Meanwhile, 'Kim Ju-ha's Day & Night' airs every Saturday at 9:40 p.m.<
[Photo] MBN 'Kim Ju-ha's Day & Night' broadcast screen capture
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