Veteran Actor Im Hyun-sik Opens Up About Health Concerns Amid Cognitive Decline

Veteran actor Im Hyun-sik has raised concerns about his health condition.

On the October 19th episode of MBN's current affairs program 'Special World,' Im Hyun-sik appeared to share updates on his life.

During the episode, Im Hyun-sik started his day by clearing the snow that had accumulated overnight. When he remarked, "I think this counts as exercise," the production team noted, "You seem out of breath." Im Hyun-sik acknowledged, "The time it takes for me to get out of breath is getting shorter as I age."

He also opened up about his recent health issues. Im Hyun-sik previously appeared on TV Chosun's 'Perfect Life,' where he revealed that he had undergone a heart stent procedure and was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. He shared that he was shocked to learn that while it wasn't dementia, it was a more advanced stage than simple forgetfulness.

His daughter, who visited his home, said, "Since 2023, his forgetfulness seemed to worsen. He underwent a cognitive function test, and it was suspected to be mild cognitive impairment," adding, "It's not dementia, but it's a stage where caution is needed."

Im Hyun-sik confessed that he wanted to keep the test results a secret from those around him for a while, admitting that his fear of health issues has grown with age.

Forgetfulness is a stage where memories can be recalled with time or hints, while mild cognitive impairment involves forgetting experiences entirely, making it difficult to recall even with hints, though daily life remains manageable. Dementia, however, is characterized by a decline in overall cognitive function, affecting daily life.

Born in 1945, Im Hyun-sik is 82 years old this year. He debuted in 1969 as part of MBC's first open recruitment for actors and has been active in the industry for over 50 years. He gained popularity for his role as Soon-dol's father in the drama 'Three Families Under One Roof' and has since played memorable roles in numerous hit series such as 'Hur Jun' and 'Dae Jang Geum.'

By Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr