Actor Shin Seong-il vows to fight lung cancer
SEOUL, June 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean actor Shin Sung-il confirmed Wednesday that he had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Earlier this week, a local hospital confirmed that he had stage three lung cancer, the 80-year-old actor told Yonhap News Agency in a phone interview.
He will go through radiation therapy starting this Friday to first reduce the size of the tumor and then decide if he needs a surgery, he said.
"Fortunately the tumor didn't spread and the doctor speaks positively about my condition," he said. "I am confident that I can overcome it."
The actor quit smoking, one of the biggest causes of lung cancer, in 1982 and was often seen on TV to take good care of his health.
"I've refrained from drinking and exercised every day. My father died of tuberculosis and the hereditary factors played a role, I think."
Until recently, he was very active in the Korean film scene. On Thursday, he is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of a local cinema event run by the Korean Film Archive. This fall, the Busan International Film Festival plans to screen a special retrospective to honor the life-long dedication of Shin to the development of the Korean film industry.
But he said he had to postpone shooting for his upcoming move "Happiness" until next year due to undergoing treatment.
Shin debuted in 1960 and has appeared in more than 500 films. He has witnessed the rapid development of Korean cinema and played a critical role in it.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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