South Korean actor Lee Dong-gun was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis during his appearance on a popular TV show.
The Sept 28 episode of My Little Old Boy, a South Korean reality series following single celebrities older than what is conventionally considered a prime marriage age, featured Lee visiting the hospital for severe symptoms in his right eye.
The 45-year-old star told the doctor that he had experienced repeated inflammation of the uveitis – a form of eye inflammation that affects the middle layer of eye tissues – for over a year, which the doctor said was odd.
The doctor suggested that Lee might be suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory disease characterised by the spine being less flexible and possibly causing some of the bones in the spine to fuse.
The diagnosis was backed by severe inflammations in the sacroiliac joint, which showed up in the X-ray images.
Ankylosing spondylitis has no known cure, but the symptoms can be managed to improve physical functions and slow the disease’s progress. Treatment includes a combination of physical therapy, exercise and medication, and Lee was told to manage his diet and refrain from alcohol and tobacco.
Varying data suggests that around 0.1 to 1.4% of the global population may have ankylosing spondylitis. As at 2023, 55,375 people in South Korea were suffering from the disease, which accounted for a little more than 0.1% of the 51.7 million population in the country at the time.
About 28.2% of the patients were in their 40s, followed by 22% in their 30s, and 12.9% in their 20s. It was more common among men (40,208) than women (15,167).
Lee made his debut in the entertainment industry as a singer in 1998, but blossomed as an actor and shot to stardom via his roles in television series Lovers In Paris (2004) and Sweet 18 (2004). His recent acting credits include South Korean TV series Leverage (2019) and Celebrity (2023).
He was married to South Korean actress Jo Yoon-hee, 42, between 2017 and 2020, and they have a seven-year-old daughter. - The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
