Actor Choi Sung Won became emotional while speaking about his difficult experience of battling leukemia twice.
Choi Sung Won will appear with his longtime friends Park Hae Soo, Im Chul Soo, and Park Jae Yoon on the August 7 episode of KBS 2TV’s Happy Together: Glad I’m Not Alone.
In a newly released preview, the actor was seen holding back tears as the conversation turned to the period when he was receiving treatment.
Director Jang Hang Joon carefully mentioned that news of Choi Sung Won’s illness came while his acting career was gaining attention.
Choi Sung Won said, “I became ill in 2016, and then it returned. It was extremely difficult.”
He added through tears, “It was so painful that I do not even want to remember it again.”
His close friend Im Chul Soo recalled how deeply the news affected him.
He said, “I was seriously shocked. I cried a lot while walking that day.”
Park Hae Soo shared that he continued to believe his friend would recover.
He said, “I believed he would become healthier and make a full recovery.”
Choi Sung Won gained wide recognition in 2015 through his role as No Eul, the younger brother of Hyeri’s character Deok Sun, in tvN’s Reply 1988.
He paused his activities after being diagnosed with acute leukemia in 2016. After recovering, he returned to acting in 2018, but the illness returned in 2020.
He later underwent a bone marrow transplant and received confirmation that he had recovered after approximately two years of treatment.
The actor has also previously spoken about the lasting effects of his treatment, including changing energy levels, dryness in his eyes and mouth, damaged nails, and occasional shortness of breath.
His upcoming appearance is expected to offer a personal look at the support he received from his longtime friends during one of the most difficult periods of his life.
