[Spoets Korea, Reporter Ki-Hyeon Kim] Singer Kim Ran-yeong has revealed her battle with stomach cancer.
On the 4th, the YouTube channel ‘Exclusive World – That Person Back Then’ released a video titled “Is it a bit bad? Thought it was a stomach ulcer… Shock! The story of singer Kim Ran-yeong’s battle with cancer.”
In the video, Kim Ran-yeong appeared noticeably thin, drawing attention. She shared, “I wasn’t feeling well since March and went for a check-up. They urgently called me in and told me it’s stomach cancer. While I am calm now, it felt like a scene from a drama. My first reaction was ‘Me?'”
She continued, “I couldn’t even ask how bad it was, and was advised to go to a major hospital immediately. Tears just started flowing at that point,” she said. “Losing 500g, 1kg was nice because it made me slimmer. But then I lost energy and kept losing weight. I lost a total of 15kg after surgery.”
A year after her stomach cancer surgery, Kim went for a follow-up at the hospital. She commented, “Even though it’s been a year since the surgery, eating poorly still sends me to the bathroom,” and a specialist advised, “Your body has almost fully adapted, so you have to live in accordance with it.”
Additionally, Kim revealed changes in her voice following her battle with cancer. She said, “I’m still lacking strength, so I can’t hit the high notes like before. Although I’ve sung many songs, I’m practicing because of the high notes,” which also drew attention.
Having completed her stomach cancer surgery, she is in the phase of recovery and observation but is returning to the stage. She stated, “Since I survived, I told myself not to relapse and to live healthily, and a year after surgery, I can sing a bit now. It’s a shame to retire like this, so I will definitely leave behind my life’s song. And if my voice deteriorates, I will retire,” she said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Kim Ran-yeong debuted after winning the grand prize at the MBC New Singer Contest in 1976. Known for her medley performances, she reportedly has sold 30 million albums. She has released over 70 albums, including originals and remakes, and placed in the Hong Kong Music Festival in 1980.