Korean Actor Choi Phillip reveals son's cancer battle; heartbreaking story goes VIRAL on 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2'
Korean actor Choi Phillip
's son was diagnosed with liver cancer just after birth. The story, which recently went viral on Korean TV show "Same Bed,
Different Dreams 2
," has left viewers in tears and honestly, it's the kind of raw, emotional content that hits different.
Choi Phillip, who debuted in 2005 with the MBC drama "Yeongjae's Golden Age," opened up about the most challenging period of his life when his son Do-un was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a type of
pediatric liver cancer
, at just four months old in 2022. The timing? Peak COVID-19 pandemic. Because apparently, life wasn't complicated enough already.
The Ultimate Dad Move
Choi Phillip literally became a human shield for his son, staying glued to the hospital room 24/7. "I was completely attached to my son as a live-in caregiver. I brought my laptop and continued working," he revealed. The man was essentially running his business empire (more on that later) from a pediatric cancer ward while his infant son underwent three rounds of chemotherapy, liver resection surgery, and three additional rounds of chemo.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade!
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
The emotional toll was devastating. "The child was so young when receiving chemotherapy that he was constantly struggling, vomiting, not eating, and crying all day," Choi Phillip shared. "When I laid him down, he would keep crying, so I held him continuously. Some days, I held him for 24 hours straight, sleeping and feeding him while holding him."
"Tears Are a Luxury"
Here's where the story gets really intense. While both sets of grandparents were crying their hearts out, Choi Phillip made a conscious decision to stay emotionally detached. "I think I was a bit cold. I told them, 'Tears are a luxury, so don't cry. We need to save the child.' I focused only on the child," he explained.
The good news? The strategy worked. Do-un gradually recovered, completed treatment, and as of now, only needs blood tests and ultrasounds every three months. The boy received a complete cure diagnosis in January 2023.
Building a 200 Billion Business Empire
While dealing with his son's cancer battle, Choi Phillip was simultaneously building a business empire that would make even seasoned entrepreneurs jealous. The man revealed that his company hit 100 billion Korean won (approximately ₹615 crores) in sales in 2018, and last year's revenue was just shy of 200 billion won (around ₹1,230 crores).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
13 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
‘Sairaaya' is a surprise blockbuster only for those who weren't watching closely
Alert: Spoilers ahead about Saiyaara 's plot. Soon after Saiyaara's release on July 18, a Mumbai screenwriter joked on Instagram that he had thrown away his horror comedy script and would be pitching a romantic film instead. Mohit Suri's musical, starring Aneet Padda and first-time actor Ahaan Pandey, is a box office scorcher, earning reportedly over Rs 83 crore in its opening weekend – a feat for a movie with untested leads. Saiyaara has broken the myths that nepo-debutants are doomed to fail theatrically – Ahaan Panday is Chunky Panday's nephew – and that it's the age of action-based films and Stree -like horror comedies. Saiyaara has confirmed that young audiences still want love stories – but black, without cream and sugar. Produced by Aditya Chopra's Yash Raj Films, which is known for its sunny romances, Saiyaara stars Panday as struggling bad-boy rocker Krish. His talent and temper hide his troubled relationship with his alcoholic father. Padda plays poet-writer Vaani, who is nursing a severe heartbreak. The plot brings them together to work on a song. They fall in love over some crackling tunes. Midway, Vaani is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Krish struggles to accept their fate, but remains a dutiful lover. For industry watchers, Saiyaara 's success is a headscratcher. Does it do anything new? Yes, it does – but also not really. Writer-director Mohit Suri is a master in packaging disparate elements like Hollywood and Korean neo-noirs, feverish Hallyu-flavoured romance and fresh indie music from the subcontinent. Suri also has his uncle and mentor Mahesh Bhatt's natural flair for staging dramatic scenes between adult lovers. Suri's unique talents, previously seen in Zeher, Awaarapan, Murder 2, Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain and Malang, got burnished with Aditya Chopra's financial backing in Saiyaara. The result: a long-awaited comeback for the romantic film, albeit in Goth makeup. Play The road to Saiyaara is packed with filmmakers – Suri among them – and younger Bollywood stars checking out of traditional romantic dramas through the 2010s. The fulcrum of the romantic genre is the belief in the institution of marriage. This requires a positive attitude towards heterosexual dating mores – perhaps last seen in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014). But that film too was a tribute to Chopra's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the seminal romantic movie for an entire generation. In HSKD 's retread of older tropes without a new vision in sight lay hints of the genre's decline. The present and past decades are awash with gloomy love stories with downbeat themes, whether in Hollywood or Bollywood – mental health (Chemical Hearts, Laila Majnu), infidelity (Marriage Story, Gehraiyaan), terminal illness (The Fault in Our Stars, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) and abuse (It Ends with Us, Satyaprem Ki Katha). The 'chocolate boy' too got bitter. Between the success of Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Arjun Reddy (2017) and its Bollywood remake Kabir Singh (2019) came the pop culture shift towards tales of dangerous love on BookTok, Bookstagram and Tumblr. Like the men with violent tendencies in young adult literature and fan fiction, Vanga's heroes too don't hesitate to threaten women into having sex. All this coincided with the global dating app boom of the 2010s. Romantic films began to feature protagonists struggling to choose the right partner out of endless options offered on the e-dating aisle. The desperation and ennui of this culture made its way to Hollywood films like Newness (2017) and Indian series such as Mismatched and Modern Love. The transformation of the genre is also consistent with the world-wide shift towards hetero-pessimism, coming in the wake of the MeToo movement. Play Even Imtiaz Ali, Bollywood's other consistent chronicler of contemporary romance, began to make his love stories messier. His Tamasha feels less a romance and more a coming-of-age film about a manic-depressive man. In Hollywood, studios began neglecting mid-budget fare that include rom-coms in favour of tentpole films, such as superhero films, spy thrillers and reliable family-friendly IP. Mid-budget movies have been under threat in India too, with the pan-Indian success of Baahubali (2015-2017) followed by endless imitators. The southern film industries managed to keep love stories alive, with their directors combining coming-of-age stories with the long-winded messiness of finding and holding on to love. Hemanth M Rao's two-part Sapta Saagaradaache Ello and the Malayalam superhits Hridayam and Premalu exemplify this trend. In Bollywood, the romances that left a mark – Manmarziyaan, Gehraiyaan, Haseen Dilruba – either addressed current misgivings about the promise of heterosexual fulfilment or muddled the story with trauma and disease. Notably, they are either streaming releases or theatrical films that have gained traction after becoming available online. The Bollywood rom-com never did disappear entirely. It hid itself inside the North Indian comedy of manners that doubled up as family films. Examples include the prototype Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015), Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), Luka Chhupi (2020) and Zara Bachke Zara Hatke (2023). But the traditional rom-com, whose engine was the friction between a man and a woman of strong and contrasting personalities, in an urban setting with no family in sight, had all but vanished. Karan Johar did take up the challenge and attempt Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), bridging the classic rom-com with woke subversions, but it didn't entirely work. Mohit Suri, who can thank South Korea for his career, has punctuated Saiyaara with elements from the Hallyu romance A Moment to Remember (2004). Suri's ever-reliable ear for angsty emo pop has done wonders. Perhaps Mumbai filmmakers will have to grunge up their romantic heroes, trauma-load their heroines and pre-book Mithoon if the romantic drama has to be kept alive after this miraculous comeback. Play
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Exclusive - Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin actor Shakti Arora spills the beans about his diet, fitness; says 'I've switched to vegetarian food and try to keep everything home-cooked'
Shakti Arora, known for his charming presence and impactful performances in hit shows like Meri Aashiqui Tum Se Hi, Kundali Bhagya, and Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal, has always been admired not just for his acting but also for the discipline he maintains off-screen. From long shooting hours to physically demanding roles, Shakti makes sure to stay fit and balanced through a healthy lifestyle, regular workout sessions, and mindful wellness habits. 'To keep my energy levels up, I focus on staying consistent with my workouts. I try to mix things up with cardio and strength training, which keeps it interesting and effective,' Shakti shares. 'Sleep is non-negotiable for me, and I do my best to eat a balanced diet that includes enough protein and nutrients. Lately, I've also started including yoga and meditation in my daily routine. It really helps me stay centered, focused, and calm especially on long and stressful shoot days. ' Shakti adds, 'Balancing fitness with a tight shooting schedule is tough, but I've realised it's necessary if I want to give my 100%. I usually fit in quick but intense workout sessions that leave me energised. And honestly, walking is something I absolutely love. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It's my way of clearing my head, relaxing after a long day, or just enjoying some quiet time with myself.' 'When it comes to physically demanding roles or action scenes, I make sure I'm well-prepared. Building endurance through regular workouts really helps. One important thing I've learned is to never skip warm-ups. I made that mistake once and ended up with a painful tennis elbow, which taught me how important it is to condition your body before stepping on set,' shares Shakti. The actor adds with a smile, 'My diet is actually very simple. I've switched to vegetarian food now, even though I used to be non-vegetarian earlier. My day starts with warm water, and I usually skip breakfast. Lunch is full of grilled vegetables, paneer, or whatever sabzi is made at home, always with a good portion of salad. Dinner is usually dal, roti, sabzi, and some tofu to keep up the protein intake. I try to keep everything home-cooked and light. ' The Tere Liye actor further opened up about his skincare routine, he says, "Skincare is another area I keep minimal. Since we're under makeup and lights for long hours, I just make sure I stay hydrated and moisturise properly. I don't have a big routine or any elaborate steps. I like to keep it natural and simple. That works best for me.' Shakti adds, 'I don't really believe in fancy detox drinks or trends. I rely on good old water to stay hydrated, especially on hectic shoot days. For me, the more natural the routine, the better I feel overall. Simplicity really is key when it comes to health. One simple wellness habit I never skip is drinking warm water first thing in the morning. It kickstarts my metabolism and gives me a fresh start to the day. Along with that, regular workouts and a bit of meditation help me stay grounded and motivated no matter how packed the day looks. ' Bhavika Sharma: Ayesha & Neil are very sweet; I'm glad to be a part of Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan to feature Shubhangi Latkar in the lead role; the actress says 'Roles like these are rare and so fulfilling'
Upcoming fiction offering Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan brings to life the poignant and empowering journey of a woman wronged by society but determined to rise again. Adapted from the popular Kannada show Puttakana Makkalu, the show traces the story of Ganga Mai, a mother who is abandoned by her husband for not bearing a son. Despite the betrayal, she chooses to live with her head held high, fulfilling the duty of both nurturer and provider as she raises her three daughters with strength, love, and dignity. Popular actress Shubhangi Latkar takes on the titular role of Ganga Mai, a woman with no formal education but immense wisdom and emotional depth. She runs a small mess in Varanasi to provide for her three daughters and supports not just her family but also those in the community who look up to her for guidance and comfort. Though deeply hurt by abandonment, she ensures her daughters and she stand united, supporting one another through every hardship. Her calm strength, unshakable integrity, and motherly warmth make her the emotional anchor of the story. Speaking about her role, Shubhangi shared, 'When I first heard the narration, I was moved by the raw honesty of Ganga Mai's character. She is real, grounded, and has faced the harshest realities with so much grace. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Crypto CFDs May Suit Your Portfolio IC Markets Learn More Undo I said yes almost instantly because roles like these are rare and so fulfilling as an actor. I'm truly honoured to bring her journey to life and can't wait for the audience to witness her strength.' Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan is produced by Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta and is all set to premiere soon. As the story premieres, it will be interesting to see how Ganga Mai holds her family together with unwavering love and determination, rising above society's judgment to create a life of meaning. Dipika Kakar BREAKS SILENCE on TV Comeback Rumours | Here's What She Said
