Jin Tae-hyun: Why he won't stop running one year after cancer surgery

Actor Jin Tae-hyun has expressed his determination to continue pursuing new goals, while candidly revealing the changes in his physical condition following thyroid cancer surgery. After being forced to halt exercise due to cancer treatment and subsequent injuries, he has returned to running, choosing a "slow challenge" by listening to his body and adjusting his pace.

On the 31st, Jin posted a photo of himself sitting in the stands of an outdoor athletic field in sportswear on his SNS, along with a message saying, "My body is not what it used to be after thyroid cancer surgery." He added, "It might be because of my age," laughing it off, but continued, "I am in the middle of a challenge with a dream, so I am trying to do it slowly with the thought that I will achieve it someday." He concluded by cheering himself on, writing, "Jin Tae-hyun fighting, self-cheer."

These remarks are more than just a complaint about declining physical condition. Jin has long treated consistent exercise as a vital pillar of his daily life and self-management. In particular, he has demonstrated his stamina and willpower by sharing his running records on SNS, but after cancer treatment and injuries, he faced a situation where it was difficult to push his body as hard as he did before.

In fact, on the 13th of this month, Jin revealed his running training process, stating, "The season has come where 10km daily is now the standard." At that time, he exercised by running for 8 minutes and resting for 2 minutes, running a total of 7.9km in 39 minutes and 54 seconds. He showed strong physical strength, completing 5 sets due to a mistake during the training process and stating, "I could have done about 2 more."

However, excessive exercise intensity led to further complications. Jin suffered an injury to his right foot last April. His wife, Park Si Eun, explained through the couple's YouTube channel that the injury was caused by Jin rapidly increasing his speed after returning to running following a period of rest after his cancer surgery.

In particular, a so-called "relay injury" occurred, where an injury in one area led to another. Jin has previously revealed that his condition was so poor that medical staff told him never to run again for the rest of his life. Since then, while he has managed the pain to some extent, he explained that he is in a state requiring rehabilitation due to remaining imbalances in left and right muscle strength.

His process of resuming exercise is also intertwined with the cancer treatment that began last year. Jin was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in April last year and underwent surgery later that same year. During the treatment process, he had to adjust a significant portion of his daily life, including his exercise routine.

After the surgery, Jin expressed his gratitude to the medical staff, saying, "The surgery ended well." He specifically expressed his thanks to fans and those around him, mentioning the moment his attending physician held his hand and said, "Don't worry anymore." It appears the process of returning to daily life after overcoming cancer was not entirely smooth.

For Jin, running holds a meaning beyond simple physical training. It is a lifestyle that keeps him moving toward his life goals as well as his activities as an actor. However, in this post, rather than emphasizing the high intensity of his past, he chose the expression "slowly." This is interpreted as an attitude of accepting the signals his body is sending and adjusting his pace following his cancer surgery and injury.

The couple, Jin Tae-hyun and Park Si Eun, have served as important pillars in each other's lives for a long time. After marrying in 2015, the two formed a family and are living with their three adopted daughters. In particular, the couple has communicated with the public by relatively honestly revealing private areas such as exercise, family life, and health issues through broadcasts and personal channels.

Even during his battle with cancer and the recovery process, Jin continued his efforts to protect his family and daily life. As he has consistently shared stories about his work as an actor, exercise, volunteering, and family, this confession can be seen as a calm depiction of the reality he faced during recovery rather than a display of health.

Completing cancer treatment does not mean immediately returning to one's pre-surgery physical state. Recovery involves not only physical adaptation but also resetting exercise intensity and life rhythms. Jin also chose to continue his challenges while acknowledging the fact that his body is not what it used to be.

His words, "I will achieve it someday," contain a new attitude that prioritizes sustainability over speed. Attention is focused on how Jin, having returned to the track after navigating surgery and injury, will find a new balance between his body and his dreams.