Yoo Jae Suk has explained what led him to cancel a scheduled recording on the same day for the first time in his 35-year broadcasting career.
During the October 10 episode of the YouTube series *Pinggyego*, Yoo Jae Suk discussed the health issue that forced him to miss filming for *Whenever Possible* last month.
Song Eun Yi brought up the incident after recalling how much attention it received. Yoo Jae Suk admitted that he was also surprised by the reaction because he normally continues working even when he does not feel well.
He explained, *“I usually go to recordings unless something serious happens. Even when I’m sick, I normally push through it.”*
However, that morning he suddenly developed a severe sore throat and a mild fever.
Yoo Jae Suk said, *“I suddenly became really worried because my throat hurt so much and I had a slight fever. I wondered if it could be COVID-19 or the flu.”*
He clarified that he was not so sick that he could not get out of bed. Instead, his biggest concern was the nature of *Whenever Possible*, which involves meeting members of the public and traveling to different locations.
He explained that if the program had only involved regular cast members, he might have visited the hospital and delayed filming until later in the day if he felt better.
But because the show required contact with ordinary participants, he decided it would be safer not to take the risk.
Yoo Jae Suk said, *“I went to the hospital that morning, but I wasn’t confident about going ahead with it, so we unfortunately had to cancel.”*
After receiving treatment, his condition improved quickly. He even contacted the production team later to ask whether filming could resume, but preparations had already been called off.
Tests later showed that he did not have COVID-19 or influenza.
Reflecting on the amount of concern surrounding the cancellation, Yoo Jae Suk said, *“I think because people heard it was the first time in 35 years, they assumed something serious had happened. I’m sorry for unintentionally making everyone worry.”*
He added with a laugh that he felt much better by around noon and even considered exercising, but his wife Na Kyung Eun stopped him.
According to Yoo Jae Suk, she told him, *“Oppa, if you go outside right now, people will talk. Don’t go.”*
He jokingly agreed that it would have looked strange to cancel a recording because of illness and then be spotted exercising the same day.
The incident marked Yoo Jae Suk’s first same-day recording cancellation in approximately 35 years, but he emphasized that the decision was largely a precaution to avoid potentially exposing members of the public while he was unsure whether he had a contagious illness.
