Comedian Song Pil Geun has shared a harrowing account of his battle with necrotizing pancreatitis, a severe disease that pushed him to the brink of death. He detailed the urgent situation in which medical staff gave him a "warning close to a terminal prognosis." Because his condition involved not just general health deterioration but organ necrosis and a systemic inflammatory response, it is being noted as a medically high-risk case.
Appearing on the CBS Christian channel YouTube variety show "Saeropge Hasoseo" released on the 6th, Song testified to his journey of illness under the title "What You See After Crossing the Hill of Death.'
Regarding his initial symptoms, he explained, "In the morning, it felt like simple indigestion, but as night fell, my condition worsened so rapidly that I was rushed to the emergency room." He emphasized that the pain was beyond normal levels, stating, "The pain felt like I had swallowed hydrochloric acid, and even strong painkillers had no effect at all."
Following detailed examinations, he was diagnosed with necrotizing pancreatitis, a condition where pancreatic tissue undergoes self-digestion and necrosis. This disease is known as a high-risk condition where pancreatic enzymes destroy tissue, causing severe inflammatory responses and multiple complications.
The medical team attributed his condition to a combination of irregular lifestyle habits, overwork, stress, and alcohol consumption. Song recalled, "I thought I was drinking at a level I could handle, but in the end, my body could not endure it."
In particular, his inflammation levels rose to 36—dozens of times the normal standard (0.5)—and remained at that level for over four months. During the height of his struggle, the situation was so critical that medical staff told his family, "This week is the turning point." As he was in the early stages of marriage at the time, he noted that his spouse's care and emotional support played a major role.
As the disease became chronic, he also suffered from ascites, where inflammatory fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity. Due to the extreme pain, he could barely function, often having to stay in specific postures just to endure. Furthermore, immediate surgery was impossible because the progression of necrosis had to stop before surgical intervention could be safely performed.
Song explained the significant decline in his overall physical function, saying, "Relying on IV drips for nutrition caused my muscle mass to drop sharply, resulting in a weight loss of nearly 36kg."
However, at approximately the four-month mark, the progression of necrosis suddenly stopped, making surgery possible. He underwent a major operation lasting about 5 hours and 30 minutes. Because laparoscopic surgery was not an option, the medical team performed open surgery followed by repeated irrigation.
After the surgery, his inflammation levels dropped sharply, showing an unusual recovery process where they returned to the normal range in just a few days, leading to his discharge in about two weeks. Medically, this is considered a unique case of "rapid recovery after an acute critical period."
During his recovery, he expressed his gratitude to entertainer Song Eun-i, who continuously checked on his well-being despite not having a particularly close personal friendship.
Currently, Song has had parts of the damaged areas removed due to the necrosis. While he maintains a health status with limited pancreatic function compared to the general public, his major health indicators are reported to be stable. He said, "My standards for life have completely changed. After the experience of being on the verge of death, I have been able to let go of unnecessary greed."
Finally, he added a bit of self-deprecating humor in his comedian style, saying, "The best diet is almost 'Die' (dying)."
Having debuted as a 27th recruitment comedian for KBS in 2012, he is continuing his comeback activities by expanding his scope into music alongside comedy following his recovery.
