Running Man’s Yang Se-chan opens up about 12-year battle with thyroid cancer

South Korean comedian Yang Se-chan may bring the laughs on K-variety shows like Running Man (2010 to present), but unknown to many viewers, he has been quietly battling cancer for over a decade.

The 38-year-old opened up about having thyroid cancer in the Oct 16 episode of South Korean variety show Problem Child In House (2018 to present).

In a preview released on Oct 15, Yang shared his experience after South Korean actor Jin Tae-hyun, one of the guests on the show, revealed that he has recovered completely from thyroid cancer and is no longer on medication.

“I’m still on medication,” Yang said after Jin made his revelation.

Yang recalled being unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago during a routine health screening with his fellow comedians.

He was preparing for rehearsals of comedy show Comedy Big League (2011 to present) when he received the call about his diagnosis, leaving him completely stunned.

With a wry smile, Yang said: “There was no time to be sad. My partners even joked and used their own way to console me.”

He added that his most prominent symptom at that time was extreme fatigue. “I used to sleep for 10 hours straight and still wake up yawning. That was my body’s warning signal.”

Jin, 44, said of his remission: “I’m not as tired any more after the (cancer) surgery. Before that, for three to four years, I couldn’t hold on by afternoon.”

Yang is not the only cast member of Running Man to face health issues recently.

South Korean actress Ji Ye-eun, who announced in late August that she was taking a three-week break in September for health reasons, was absent from the Oct 12 episode of the popular series Running Man.

South Korean media outlet Sports Donga reported on Oct 14 that the 31-year-old is undergoing treatment for hypothyroidism.