Seo Joo-kyung, known for her hit song 'Bold Woman,' has revealed the personal struggles she faced behind her glamorous career.
Recently, a video titled “Seo Joo-kyung's Story of Dreaming About Future Events Amidst Acute Hemorrhage?｜Special World Episode 689” was uploaded on MBN's 'Special World - The People of That Time' channel.
The video is a re-edited version of the 689th episode of MBN's 'Special World,' which aired on May 29 last year.
Seo Joo-kyung, who gained immense popularity with the national favorite song 'Bold Woman,' was once reported to have earned billions of won. The song was so popular that it was even listed in the Korean Guinness Book of Records.
Seo Joo-kyung mentioned, “I have more wealth than the rumored 7 billion won,” addressing the rumors about her earnings.
However, despite her success, her life was not smooth and was filled with hardships. Seo Joo-kyung confessed that she has been suffering from 'Polycystic Kidney Disease,' a rare condition that causes multiple cysts to form in the kidneys, for nearly 30 years.
She revealed that she was told by medical professionals that dialysis might be necessary if her condition worsens. She has been battling this disease for 30 years and admitted, “I have cysts in my kidneys, liver, lungs, thyroid, and brain.”
A shocking revelation was that she received a 'spiritual calling' at the age of 29. Suffering from unexplained illnesses since childhood, she said, “Even when I went to the hospital for hemorrhaging, they couldn't find the cause. Someone kept speaking to me, saying I wouldn't live past 40,” leading her to accept the spiritual calling for survival.
Despite these challenges, Seo Joo-kyung did not give up her singing career. She stated, “I prayed to continue singing,” and has strived to maintain her presence on stage despite the difficulties.
Another significant issue was her health condition, which made pregnancy difficult. Seo Joo-kyung shared, “I was told that having a child could be difficult and risky.”
Nevertheless, she decided to have a child after much contemplation. Seo Joo-kyung expressed, “I still wanted to have a child,” and eventually gave birth to a son at the age of 42.
Now, she is raising her 15-year-old son alone. She is in a 'graduated marriage' with her husband, with whom she only registered the marriage. “We didn't have a wedding or rings. He lives five minutes away, and he communicates with our child anytime,” she added.
Living with a rare disease that constantly threatens her life, Seo Joo-kyung expressed her greatest concern is for her son, who might be left alone, showing her sense of responsibility as a parent.
Reporter Na-yeon Cho, Ten Asia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr