Photos of singer Yoo Yeol from his time battling illness, when he weighed just 41kg, have been revealed.
On the May 13th episode of tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block’ (You Quiz), Yoo Yeol appeared as a guest, sharing his story of returning from the brink of death after fighting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for seven years.
Yoo Yeol explained that he suffers from idiopathic pleural parenchymal elastic fibrosis, a rare disease affecting only 1% of people. He shared, “The lungs become inflamed and gradually harden, making it incredibly difficult to breathe. Some doctors predicted a survival window of 4 to 5 years, while others said 6 to 7 years.”
His journey began in 2017 during a health checkup where lung inflammation was first detected. Yoo Yeol recalled, “I was told it was suspected and needed monitoring, and that I should take medication to slow it down and breathe fresh air, so I didn’t think much of it. Then I contracted acute pneumonia, and my fever soared to 40 degrees Celsius and wouldn’t drop. My pulse became so high that the hospital suspected lung cancer, but a biopsy revealed pulmonary fibrosis.”
He noted that there is currently no cure for the disease, only medication to slow its progression. “As breathing becomes more difficult and consumes more energy, you lose weight,” he explained. He mentioned a video that went viral on YouTube around 2023, showing him singing at a small church when he had dropped to 47 or 48kg.
The most difficult period came in May 2024, when he was rushed to the hospital via emergency services due to the flu and a high fever. He spent six grueling months there, unable to even leave his bed. In less than ten days, his weight plummeted to 41kg, leaving him completely dependent on others for basic needs. His heart rate spiked to 190, a level similar to running a marathon, and he required the strongest oxygen respirator. He heartbreakingly revealed that at the time, the doctor even asked his wife about life-sustaining treatment.
