Lee Kyeon: 'I got hurt trying to step aside' — Returning to daily life after clavicle surgery

Actor Lee Kyeon, who left the entertainment industry to become a businessman in Vietnam, has completed a grueling six-month recovery following an unexpected accident. After suffering a torn clavicle ligament while trying to avoid a young child, he rushed back to Korea for surgery and recently began rehabilitation after having the metal pins removed from his body.

On the 8th, Lee Kyeon shared photos of his hospital treatment, the surgical site, and X-rays on social media. He wrote, "There was a nonsensical accident that was truly unfair, and I have somehow endured these difficult six months."

In the photos, Lee Kyeon is seen lying in a hospital bed wearing patient clothes and receiving an IV drip. The X-rays released alongside the surgical site show traces of the metal device used to fix the clavicle area.

Lee Kyeon explained that the "clavicle ligament tear occurred while colliding with a small Chinese child during the Lunar New Year season." He further confessed, "I underwent emergency surgery in Korea, and after six months of endurance, the metal pins were removed. I didn't say it, but it was truly uncomfortable and difficult."

The accident occurred last February. At the time, Lee Kyeon stated, "I was the only one who suffered a disaster while stepping aside for a young Chinese girl who was running around." He shared that he endured the pain starting from February 9, but due to the local medical situation and the overlap with the holiday season, he ultimately returned to Korea for surgery.

The unexpected accident did not end with a simple bruise. Because the ligaments around the clavicle and shoulder were damaged, surgery was required, and he had to endure the recovery process for six months with the metal pins remaining in his body. The fact that Lee Kyeon repeatedly used the expression "unfair" in his recent update seems to stem from the suddenness of the accident and the prolonged physical discomfort.

He announced that he will now begin "self-rehabilitation" after being discharged. Rather than the removal of the metal pins being the end of his recovery, it marks the beginning of a new stage to regain daily movement and shoulder function.

Lee Kyeon's recent news is drawing particular interest because his current life is significantly different from the entertainer the public remembers. After debuting with the group UP in 1997, he transitioned into acting and left a strong impression on the public through the MBC sitcom "Hello, Franceska." He also made himself known through variety shows, including "Reckless Challenge."

His activities as an actor continued as well. He appeared in works such as "Stars Falling From the Sky," "Yeon Gaesomun," and "Spy MyeongWol," but effectively distanced himself from domestic broadcasting after "Three Musketeers" on tvN in 2014. The place he chose afterward was Vietnam.

Lee Kyeon moved to Da Nang, Vietnam, in 2016 to begin his life there. In past broadcasts, he revealed that he headed to Vietnam without any special connections and carved out a new life by jumping into the coffee business and operating several stores.

Lee Kyeon's path has been noteworthy as an example of someone in the entertainment industry leaving behind a familiar profession and environment to jump into a completely different field. In past broadcasts, he mentioned that he worked tirelessly from age 17 to his mid-30s and expressed sentiments that at one point, he wanted to "reset" his life.

In reality, his life in Vietnam was not just a simple stay abroad. He built a new career based on the local coffee business, and after a long hiatus from broadcasting, he reappeared before viewers through a variety program in 2025. In 2026, news of his appearance on the KBS variety show "The Logic" was also reported, showing that he continues to meet the public intermittently while maintaining a certain distance from broadcasting.

This accident was a sudden variable that interrupted his new life. While continuing his business and daily life abroad, he suffered an unexpected injury and chose to return to Korea for surgery rather than continuing treatment locally.

A period of six months is not short. In particular, since injuries to the shoulder and clavicle area can affect daily movements, it is likely that there was significant discomfort in continuing his business and external activities. It is reported that Lee Kyeon focused on recovery without disclosing all the specific details during this time.

The metal pins have now been removed from his body. The remaining task is rehabilitation to regain the movement and condition he had before the injury.

For Lee Kyeon, who left behind a glamorous entertainment career to carve out a new life as a coffee entrepreneur in a foreign land, this accident remains another unexpected curveball. However, as he has completed the post-surgery process after enduring six months of discomfort, attention is focused on whether he can now concentrate on his daily life and business again.