Yoo Jae-suk, Kang Ho-dong, Song Seung-heon, Jang Keun-suk... "Bad Breath from the Mouth → Thyroid Cancer" 20 Years of Blood and Tears in Quitting Smoking [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Broadcasters Yoo Jae-suk and Kang Ho-dong also barely managed to quit smoking.

As public interest in "wellness" continues, success stories of celebrities quitting smoking are consistently drawing attention. Testimonies reveal that once someone gets hooked on cigarettes, it is extremely difficult to quit even after 10 years.

On the the 9th broadcast of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block', Yoo Jae-suk revealed that he has been smoke-free for 20 years.

Guest doctor Lee Jun-seo, a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon who has spent nine years overcoming alcohol addiction, appeared on the show to explain the criteria distinguishing casual drinkers from those with addiction. Lee explained, "Seeing a beautiful flower while walking or thinking of your daughter's drawing brings joy, but you aren't distressed if the flower is gone the next day. You don't beg your daughter to draw again. However, if alcohol runs out while drinking, it causes distress. This indicates dependency."

Yoo Jae-suk agreed, saying, "It seems to be like that with things other than alcohol. If you can't stand without it, that's addiction." He added, "I used to smoke and quit 20 years ago. I tried countless methods to quit. For example, I told myself I'd only smoke five cigarettes a day. But that didn't work. It was difficult. I quit by simply deciding 'I will quit.' There may be a difference in degree compared to alcohol, but gradually reducing the number is not statistically easy."

In 2023, on the web variety show 'Ping-gyeo-go' of YouTube channel 'Tteun-tteun', Yoo Jae-suk listed instant noodles and cigarettes as foods he wanted to eat before dying. When it was mentioned that he said, "After eating ramen, I want one puff of a cigarette I've been holding back on," Yoo replied, "I haven't smoked for over 10 years. Now I don't think about cigarettes at all." However, he confessed, "If I go to the other world, before my death, I'd like to eat one of my favorite ramen and have a post-meal cigarette (a slang term for smoking after a meal)."

Kang Ho-dong is also someone who struggled but succeeded in quitting smoking. In a past broadcast of JTBC's 'Knowing Bros', Kang confessed that the decisive moment for quitting came from a child actor's remark on a program. He said, "As soon as I heard those words, I felt sorry and embarrassed toward the child, so I quit immediately."

Kang Ho-dong revealed in 2015 on tvN's 'New Journey to the West' that he had quit smoking, saying, "I've quit cigarettes. It feels so good to get out of them. The world is different." He has reportedly been smoke-free for over 10 years since then.

Actor Song Seung-heon also had no choice but to quit due to the pressure of foul odors and physical discomfort. Appearing on YouTube channel 'Jjanhan-hyeong Shin Dong-yeop' in 2024, he explained that there were two reasons for quitting smoking, noting that while he used to smoke, he is now a non-smoker.

He said, "I loved running and playing sports during my school days. I never felt short of breath even after playing soccer all day. Recently, when I went out for morning soccer, I ran for about five minutes and started panting. Being slightly shocked by the thought that 'my body has gone wrong,' I realized how drastically my physical condition had declined."

Song Seung-heon further revealed that he decided to quit after a single remark from his former girlfriend. He said with a smile, "My then-girlfriend told me, 'Oppa, quit smoking.' When I asked why, she replied, 'Your mouth smells like X.' So I quit that day."

Actor Jang Keun-suk decided to quit after developing a serious health issue. In last year's broadcast of SBS's 'My Little Old Boy', he revealed that he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2024 and underwent surgery. He said, "When I first received the diagnosis, it felt so unfair. I wondered why the world would burden me like this." He added, "I thought I had worked hard since my child actor days and lived well, so I resented why such trials were given to me."

He stated, "After being cured, I decided I need to treat myself more carefully. I am developing a habit of staying away from things that are bad for my body." He further surprised viewers by mentioning that he successfully quit smoking at once while maintaining consistent daily routines such as waking up times.

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*This content was translated by AI.