Actor Kim Jeong-tae recalled the past when he continued filming while battling liver cancer and ultimately broke down in tears. Behind the bright appearance was pain.
On the 29th broadcast of TV CHOSUN 'Dad and I,' Kim Jeong-tae's health condition and the battle with illness he had kept hidden were revealed.
Kim Jeong-tae mentioned that he was diagnosed with liver cancer in October 2018 and had to halt his activities, and he conveyed the reason he could not help but leave the drama Hwanghu-ui Poomgyeok. He said, "I felt something was wrong during filming and had a blood test, and my liver enzymes were not the normal 30–40 but 900," and added, "The medical staff said it was so severe they were surprised."
He went on to say, "Because I am a carrier of hepatitis B due to maternal inheritance, there is no concept of a complete cure," and explained, "While some cancers are over once removed, liver cancer has a high possibility of recurrence even after removal." He is currently undergoing regular checkups every four months to monitor and manage his condition.
The broadcast also showed him undergoing an abdominal CT scan to check his condition after liver cancer surgery. Kim Jeong-tae candidly said, "A four-month checkup cycle is essential to prevent recurrence, but it is more worrisome because it was delayed by a month."
What moved people most was that he continued filming even while battling illness. Recalling the time of a film shoot, Kim Jeong-tae confessed, "I was in pain but couldn't say anything for fear of being cut. I endured even when I had enough ascites to be swollen." He added, "When filming the movie 'Ddonggae,' the disease recurred, but I hid it and kept filming."
In particular, recalling the time of a stage greeting, he eventually welled up. He said, "My mother came and greeted the director and cried so much. It was because she knew I had filmed while sick," and added, "Seeing that broke my heart so much."
It was a moment when the pain and sense of responsibility hidden behind his bright appearance were revealed. Co-host Jun Hyun-moo comforted him, saying, "Even his mother in heaven would be prouder of her son than anyone," and conveyed a message of encouragement, saying, "If he protects his own health, he can protect his family."
Despite fighting the disease for a long time, Kim Jeong-tae did not abandon his responsibilities as head of the household. His confession went beyond a simple chronicle of illness, conveying a desperate love for his family and the intensity of his dedication as an actor, leaving a deep impression.
[Photo] Screenshot of the broadcast 'Dad and I'
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