Comedian Kim Soo-yong recently revealed an unforeseen consequence stemming from a playful remark about suing actor Lim Hyeong-jun and broadcaster Kim Sook, the very individuals who saved his life during a medical emergency.
Kim Soo-yong’s 2023 took a dramatic turn on November 14 when he experienced cardiac arrest while in Gapyeong with Lim Hyeong-jun for a YouTube shoot hosted by Kim Sook. Diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction, he was rushed to the hospital, but miraculously regained consciousness thanks to the swift actions of those present and the responding fire department.
Following his recovery, Kim Soo-yong, known for his ability to find humor in even the most serious situations, jokingly threatened to “sue” Lim Hyeong-jun for allegedly cracking his ribs during CPR and Kim Sook for “defamation.” He described the situation as a “good agreement” but recently decided to discontinue these jokes.
He explained, “We used to make fun jokes among ourselves, but there are people who find this joke uncomfortable. It’s something we never imagined, but we heard that someone is actually suing someone for breaking his ribs. They say that the general public takes the joke about suing someone for doing CPR and is avoiding it because they take it for real. They end up thinking, ‘You could get sued for doing CPR by mistake.'”
Kim Soo-yong learned of an actual case where a rescue worker faced a damages claim, prompting his change of heart. “I thought I shouldn’t even make a joke like this. It was something I had never thought of. That’s why I don’t joke anymore. It’s surprising,” he said.
The near-death experience prompted a complete lifestyle overhaul. Kim Soo-yong announced he has given up cola and completely quit smoking. “I heard that cigarettes are especially fatal to blood vessels, so if a myocardial infarction patient smokes, they should just think that they will die,” he joked, adding, “Why are you selling this guy’s cigarettes? I’m so angry.”
Surprisingly, quitting smoking proved easier than anticipated. “It’s not as bad as I thought. Actually, I thought it would be painful. I thought I would sweat, see things in vain, be irritated and feel tight in my chest, but it’s not at all. When I think about smoking, I chew gum or take a deep breath. Surprisingly, it’s bearable.”
He reflected on his past, admitting he hadn’t realized the damage smoking was causing. “Actually, I had no intention of quitting smoking. My body never became abnormal or anything like that just because I smoked. You didn’t know that your blood vessels were damaged. It would have been gradually damaged over decades, but I smoked without even knowing it.”
Now a staunch advocate for quitting, Kim Soo-yong shared that younger comedian friends, hearing his story, have expressed a desire to quit as well. “Some of my younger comedians who smoke say, ‘If you smoke, you’ll really die. You don’t know it now, but in a few years you could fall like me,’ so I had friends who wanted to quit,” he revealed, adding that he’s actively spreading awareness about the dangers of smoking.
