Yoo Jae-suk Reveals He Started Smoking Because of Chow Yun-fat, Quit 20 Years Ago for His Career

South Korean host Yu Jae-seok (유재석), beloved for his witty and approachable style, has earned the nickname “Nation’s MC” over his long career with very few negative incidents. However, during a recent appearance on a show, he unexpectedly recounted a story from his youth, revealing that he once picked up smoking after being influenced by Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat (周潤發).

On May 9, a preview for episode 359 of tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block” was released, featuring actress Lee Jung-eun (이정은) as a guest. She and Yu Jae-seok discussed their life experiences and childhood idols.

During the show, Lee Jung-eun shared that Chow Yun-fat was her idol. She explained that she became deeply fascinated by the film “A Better Tomorrow” in her third year of high school, which led to her admiration for Chow. “My friends and I all loved Chow Yun-fat back then,” she said. “My friend later chose to major in Chinese, while I went into theater and film.”

After hearing Lee Jung-eun’s story, Yu Jae-seok laughed and admitted he was also a fan of Chow Yun-fat. He then unexpectedly brought up his past experience with smoking, revealing that he “learned to smoke” after being influenced by Chow’s iconic image in films.

Chow Yun-fat’s cool demeanor with a cigarette in his mouth in movies deeply influenced young audiences at the time. Yu Jae-seok lightheartedly joked, “I should have learned other things from Chow Yun-fat, but I ended up learning to smoke.” His remark drew laughter from the set.

However, Yu Jae-seok later decided to quit smoking for his entertainment career. He first publicly discussed his motivation to quit during the 300th-episode special of MBC’s “Infinite Challenge” in 2012.

At the time, Yu Jae-seok revealed that as he got older, the physical demands of his work increased. He often found himself out of breath and physically exhausted, especially during segments like the chase games on “Infinite Challenge” that required extensive running.

He stated that to successfully film the show and deliver better results, he needed the stamina to constantly pursue his opponents. Therefore, he decided to give up smoking, something he had enjoyed. He also said at the time, “If you don’t give up something you like, it seems impossible to have something else at the same time.” For Yu Jae-seok, quitting smoking wasn’t just for his health; it was also to maintain the physical stamina required to continue running and performing in variety shows.

Notably, Yu Jae-seok had previously tried to quit by gradually reducing his cigarette intake but failed multiple times. He eventually opted for a complete and immediate cessation. This journey, from starting to smoke due to idol worship to resolutely quitting for his career, demonstrates his consistent decisiveness and self-discipline.

Yu Jae-seok has now maintained a smoke-free life for approximately 20 years, continuously managing his physical condition through exercise and fitness. His recent recollection of starting to smoke “because of an idol” has once again brought attention to this lesser-known aspect of the Nation’s MC.