Actor Kim Jeong-tae revealed his current condition after battling liver cancer and expressed his deep feelings for his family.
On the 29th, TV CHOSUN's 'Dad and I' showed Kim Jeong-tae visiting a hospital for a health checkup.
First, he drew attention as he got out of the car and entered the hospital with a tense expression after praying. In an interview with the production team, Kim Jeong-tae said, "My liver was weak, so I had surgery," revealing that he had suffered cirrhosis three times in the past and that he had been diagnosed with liver cancer in October 2018 and had suspended activities. At the time, it was also the reason he left the drama.
He recalled, "I felt something was wrong during filming and had a blood test, and my liver enzymes read as high as 900," and said, "I had a foreboding feeling all over my body." He continued, "A surgery scheduled for three hours took eight hours. The family sat down on the hospital floor," conveying the severity of the situation at the time. His wife added, "About 30% of the liver was resected, and because the tumor's location was not good, we stopped all work and focused on recovery."
After the surgery, Kim Jeong-tae has been managing his condition with regular checkups every four months. That day, he also underwent an abdominal CT scan to check for tumors, and he expressed anxiety over the delayed checkup by a month.
The attending physician explained, "As a carrier of hepatitis B, he is in a state where liver cancer can recur at any time," adding, "Currently, recurrence is being suppressed with embolization treatment, but if it is not controlled, additional resection or liver transplantation must be considered." However, at present the treatment is working well and his liver enzymes are close to normal, so he has passed the crisis.
Especially, Kim Jeong-tae expressed his feelings toward his family, adding to the poignancy. He confessed, "When my health worsened, nothing else mattered and ultimately only my family remained," saying, "I also cleaned up all my contacts." He added, "Because the children were young, I did not tell them about my illness. I need to be healthy to spend more time with the children."
He also said, "It may sound strange, but it was a blessing-like illness," adding, "My outlook on the world completely changed before and after the battle with illness. Ultimately, the only people who love me are my wife and children." He then said through tears, "Although I am in a precarious state receiving checkups every four months, I cannot let go of the thread of my health for my family," adding, "I want to be a weak but strong father."
Time endured to protect his family while coexisting with the difficult illness called liver cancer. Kim Jeong-tae's confession delivers a profound resonance that goes beyond "fighting the illness."
[Photo] 'Dad and I' broadcast screen capture
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