Comedian Park Sung-kwang's wife, Lee Sol-yi, has opened up about her battle with cancer.
On April 2, Lee Sol-yi shared screenshots of malicious comments directed at her on her social media. The comments included harsh words like "I feel sorry for Park Sung-kwang," "Is she a celebrity? Why does she keep appearing?" and "Should I be jealous of her for setting up an ATM?"
Along with the screenshots, Lee Sol-yi posted a lengthy message expressing the pain she has endured due to these comments.
She began by saying, "I think it's time to share my situation," and continued, "After appearing on 'Same Bed, Different Dreams : You Are My Destiny,' I tried to avoid reading article comments. But when I accidentally came across them again, my hands started shaking, and I cried. Even after five years, I can't get used to this. It's so unfair and heartbreaking."
She added, "I keep wondering, 'What did I do so wrong?' Every time I try to be happy and live well, why do these trials come my way? The sense of despair is overwhelming."
Lee Sol-yi explained, "I'm just an ordinary person chasing hope with all my might. Even after the show, I worked diligently at my company for nearly a year. Then one day, I received a threatening note at work telling me to 'die,' and despite asking for help to find the culprit, there was no solution. With the stress from the pandemic and random crimes happening, my husband and parents advised me to quit my job."
She clarified, "I didn't quit to rely on my husband's financial support. I truly loved my job and was passionate about it, and my colleagues know that best."
Lee Sol-yi also shared her recent cancer diagnosis and treatment journey. She revealed, "After quitting, I was naturally preparing to have a child, but five months later, I was diagnosed with cancer. Due to the nature of the cancer, I can't have children, and I felt immense guilt for not being able to protect my health, feeling sorry for my parents and in-laws."
She continued, "The cancer was aggressive, and I faced a huge setback, not knowing if I would live another year or three. I underwent surgery and chemotherapy for six months, had to be cautious about going out, couldn't eat raw food, experienced daily nausea, weight loss, skin damage, hair loss, and frequent trips to the emergency room. It was an incredibly tough time, and I'm still undergoing treatment with medication."
Lee Sol-yi stated, "That's why I can't have children up to now, and this situation continues. Every check-up, I ask, 'Can I have a child?' but the doctor always says, 'Your health comes first.' I'm still in cancer treatment, with a long way to go before being fully cured."
She candidly shared her current situation, saying, "I didn't want to bring this up, but I was hurt by the constant clickbait articles and distorted views portraying me as a 'luxurious woman,' 'a woman who doesn't want kids,' or 'a woman using her husband as an ATM.'"
She added, "Protecting my health has become crucial, and the happiness of the present moment is important. After treatment, I've been striving to return to my former self, both externally and internally. I wanted to share what has kept me going during those tough times, which is why I'm now running an online market. Yet, some people criticize my efforts as being too aggressive."
She lamented, "Is it because my determination isn't visible that I receive such indiscriminate criticism?" Lee Sol-yi continued, "Before turning 30, I never bought a luxury item, always saved diligently, and even now, I work hard behind the scenes to contribute to the household without burdening my husband."
In conclusion, Lee Sol-yi pleaded, "I can't ignore this ongoing stress any longer. I hope the world becomes a bit kinder and more understanding. I'll do my best, so please try to understand me a little better."
Following her revelation about her cancer battle, messages of support poured in for Lee Sol-yi. She later posted an update, saying, "About three years ago, I completed surgery and chemotherapy with my family's support, and I'm currently undergoing regular check-ups with no cancer cells detected. I believe I'm healthy, but I'm still on medication, and my doctors advise caution."
She corrected misinformation, stating, "There were articles wrongly suggesting I might not live long, but that's not true. I plan to live a long, healthy life."
Lee Sol-yi and Park Sung-kwang got married in August 2020. The couple appeared on SBS's 'Same Bed, Different Dreams : You Are My Destiny' to share their newlywed life.
[Photo=Lee Sol-yi's Instagram]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)