Choi Ye-na Tears Up Recalling Childhood Cancer Battle, Parents' Sacrifice

Choi Ye-na (최예나), a former member of the project girl group IZ*ONE and now a solo artist, recently shared for the first time her experience battling pediatric cancer as a child on SBS's new variety show, “My Remaining Love” (내 남은 연애). She recalled her parents' struggles to raise funds for her medical treatment, even resorting to selling gimbap to make ends meet. The emotional memory brought her to tears on set, as she admitted to feeling, even as a child, that "it was all my fault."

The episode of “My Remaining Love,” which aired on the 3rd, brought together young individuals who had previously received limited life expectancies from doctors but are now embracing life anew. They shared their personal battles against illness, hoping to find happiness and love through the program.

As the participants shared their cancer survival stories, Choi, who herself suffered from pediatric lymphoma, couldn't help but reflect on her own childhood. "I was a pediatric lymphoma patient when I was young, so hearing everyone's stories deeply resonated with me, and my emotions became very complex," she confessed. Jung Yong-hwa (정용화), leader of CNBLUE and another host, also expressed his sentiments, saying, "These participants have all experienced a life where they didn't know if tomorrow would exist. I hope they all find happy love in the end."

During the show, Han Do-kwon, a cancer survivor, shared that he rarely drank or smoked and maintained a regular exercise routine, making his diagnosis difficult to accept. "After treatment began, the hardest part was watching my hair fall out in clumps while washing it. That was the moment I truly realized everything had started." However, he eventually chose to change his perspective, believing, "This is like a car accident; there's no reason, and it's no one's fault."

Kim Sun-ho, another participant who was diagnosed with stage four cancer while serving in the military, admitted that due to his family's financial difficulties, he initially couldn't bring himself to tell his parents about his condition, a revelation that moved many to tears.

After hearing everyone's stories, Choi became overwhelmed with emotion, choking back tears as she said, "When I was sick as a child, seeing my parents and family heartbroken and devastated because of me, I felt incredibly sorry for them from a very young age. I even thought it was all my fault."

She also recalled how her parents worked tirelessly to pay for her expensive medical treatments. "I always remember my parents being under immense pressure because of the medical bills, so they went out every day to sell gimbap, just to raise money for my treatment." As Choi recounted this memory, she repeatedly broke down in tears, deeply touching the guests and audience members present.