Actor Ahn Jae-wook Reveals Life-Threatening Health Scare in the U.S.

Actor Ahn Jae-wook (안재욱) recently shared a shocking experience from his past during an appearance on KBS 2TV's 'Park Won-sook's Let's Live Together' (박원숙의 같이 삽시다) on May 19, 2025. He revealed that he suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage while in the United States.

Ahn explained that his travel plans were delayed due to an extension of a drama he was filming. He had intended to officiate at the wedding of a close friend in the U.S., but the drama's schedule forced him to postpone. After finishing the drama and performing in a musical, he finally managed to take a two-week break to visit the U.S.

Upon arriving, he began his trip with his friend's family but felt unwell from the very first day. "I thought I was just feeling bloated. I felt so uncomfortable that I decided to rest in my room, but I ended up collapsing there. I couldn't breathe while vomiting, and my hand instinctively went to the back of my neck, making a sound like cardboard tearing," he recalled.

His friend found him pale and immediately called for an ambulance, leading to emergency surgery. Ahn expressed relief that the operation was successful, but he initially struggled to accept his reality upon regaining consciousness. "I didn't want to open my eyes. I wished it wasn't real. Instead of feeling grateful to be alive, I found myself resenting fate, asking, 'Why me? What did I do wrong?' It was the most extraordinary trip of my life," he reflected.

Although the surgery went well, Ahn faced a staggering hospital bill of $500,000, which nearly caused him to collapse again. He explained that in the U.S., patients are treated first and can negotiate their bills later, unlike in South Korea, where payment is required upfront. It took him over two years to settle the bill, with the help of a medical lawyer in Korea, ultimately reducing the amount by more than half.