Jin Sung reveals wife fell from 6-meter rock during his chemotherapy, hid injuries with makeup

Jin Sung described the moment his doctor told him both conditions required extended treatment. "I could only think, 'I'm just going to die,'" he said.

The trot singer was diagnosed with lymphoma and heart valve disease simultaneously after marrying his same-age wife at 49. During his sixth round of chemotherapy, his wife climbed a mountain alone after hearing that white balloon flower (백도라지) was beneficial for cancer patients. She fell from a 6-meter rock and needed six stitches on her head. She came home with her wounds hidden under makeup so he wouldn't worry. "When I saw my wife's face covered in makeup like a wax figure, I cried a lot," Jin Sung said. He vowed then to support her for the rest of his life.

He'd already discussed the diagnoses on SBS's Misaeng: Our Beloved Summer (미운 우리 새끼), where he said cancer arrived just as he was escaping obscurity and that he planned to retire before 70.

Jin Sung appeared alongside his 40-year friend Kang Jin, who shared his own love story. As an unknown singer, he met his wife Kim Hyo-seon of the group Hee Sisters (희자매) at a mutual friend's birthday party. He drove her home after the party. The next day she called saying she'd left a stage belt in his car. That call led to more meetings and eventually marriage. The two have been together for over 40 years.

Kim Ju-ha's Day and Night is MBN anchor Kim Ju-ha's first talk show under his own name, airing every Saturday at 9:40 PM.