TV Personality Seo Jang-hoon Offers Advice to Father of Teen Cancer Survivor on 'Ask Anything'

TV personality Seo Jang-hoon offered advice to a concerned father on KBS Joy's 'Ask Anything' episode 354. The father shared his worries about his daughter, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 14, and her recent rebellious behavior.

In late 2024, the father took his daughter to a local clinic due to persistent abdominal pain. After receiving various treatments without improvement, they visited a nearby university hospital. Detailed examinations revealed a 6-7cm tumor on the head of her pancreas.

The daughter was then transferred to Seoul for emergency surgery, where multiple organs, including the head of the pancreas, gallbladder, bile duct, and duodenum, were removed.

The father expressed concern, saying, "For her health, she can only engage in light activities near home, but she often skips school or leaves early without permission." Seo Jang-hoon asked, "Given your father's concerns, how did you decide to come here?" The daughter calmly replied, "I know I did wrong and expected to be scolded."

The daughter shared her feelings, saying, "While hospitalized, I envied my friends having fun on social media," and "Even after being discharged, I felt frustrated being unable to go out."

The father recounted reporting his daughter's disappearance to the police four months post-surgery. Seo Jang-hoon and Lee Soo-geun empathized, saying, "It's natural for a father to worry," "He's only concerned about her health," and "Long-term health requires proper care."

Regarding the father's past severe punishment for his daughter's pre-illness dating, Lee Soo-geun commented, "As a parent, I understand the impulse to overreact," and "The father's guilt seems to have deepened his attachment to his daughter," offering her comfort.

'Ask Anything' airs on KBS Joy every Monday at 8 PM.

Reporter: Kim Se-ah, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr