Fans worried over Jeon Won-joo's confused behavior in new video

Fans are expressing concern for veteran actress Jeon Won-joo after she exhibited frequent forgetfulness and confused remarks in a Jeju Island travel video released on YouTube.

While some viewers suggested the possibility of dementia and urged her to undergo a health checkup, others have cautioned against hasty speculation, noting that no diagnosis has been confirmed.

On the 23rd, a video titled "87-year-old Jeon Won-joo and 82-year-old Sunwoo Yong-nyeo visiting the 2,000-pyeong Jeju house built by the late Yeo Un-gye" was released on Sunwoo Yong-nyeo's YouTube channel.

The video captures long-time colleagues and close friends Sunwoo Yong-nyeo and Jeon as they travel to Jeju Island to spend time together. The two visited the Jeju home established by the late Yeo Un-gye to share memories over a meal.

During the trip, Jeon's behavior caught the attention of viewers.

After finishing breakfast at the hotel, she suddenly began searching for her accessories, saying, "Where did I put my ring? The ring is gone." After rummaging through her bag, Jeon discovered the ring inside a wad of tissues and appeared flustered, asking, "Why am I being like this?"

Watching this, Sunwoo laughed and admonished her, saying, "If you wrap things up in places like this, you'll lose them," to which Jeon gave an embarrassed expression.

Later, while traveling by vehicle, remarks that seemed to indicate confusion about her location continued.

Jeon said, "So this is Jeju Island now. I thought I was in Seoul. I thought it was near my house," to which Sunwoo jokingly replied, "We've been in Jeju Island since yesterday, what are you saying?"

A moment later, when Sunwoo asked, "What neighborhood is this?", Jeon replied, "Chungcheong-do." When Sunwoo corrected her, saying, "It's still Jeju Island," Jeon appeared flustered, saying, "Then we haven't even reached Chungcheong-do yet? I'm going to faint."

The playful bickering between the two continued on the way to the airport.

Sunwoo gifted her a small pouch to keep her ring and watch safe, urging, "Put your valuables in here from now on. Don't lose them."

However, Jeon attempted to put raw garlic she had brought from a restaurant into the pouch. Despite Sunwoo's attempt to stop her, saying, "It smells. Throw it away," Jeon ultimately put it in the pouch, saying, "I'll eat this tomorrow morning," drawing laughter.

While the video depicted the natural daily lives and pleasant conversations of the two, some viewers reacted with concern for Jeon's health.

Comments included observations such as, "It's similar to my grandmother's early dementia symptoms," "I'm worried about her eyes and her conversation," "The behavior of wrapping a ring in tissue is often seen in early-stage dementia patients," and "I hope her family gets her tested." Many also expressed concern regarding Jeon's health following her recent hip surgery.

However, it is difficult to conclude a specific medical condition based solely on a video. Forgetfulness or momentary disorientation can be caused by various factors, including fatigue, tension, or age-related cognitive changes. A diagnosis of dementia can only be determined through neurological examinations and cognitive evaluations by medical professionals.

Experts emphasize that dementia is distinct from simple forgetfulness. It is important to seek an accurate diagnosis at a medical institution when there is a continuous decline in activities of daily living, memory loss, disorientation regarding time and place, or a decline in language function.

Born in 1939, Jeon is a veteran actress who has been beloved for decades for her unique personality across dramas, movies, and variety shows. As she continues her active career through broadcasts and YouTube, fans are sending messages of support, wishing for her to remain healthy and active for a long time.