Jung Hyung-don Reveals Ongoing Battle with Anxiety Disorder, Taking Medication for 11 Years

Korean entertainer Jung Hyung-don has revealed that he is still undergoing treatment for anxiety disorder. Reflecting on his past, when he had to halt his broadcasting activities in the midst of his peak popularity due to the condition, he candidly confessed, "I am still taking medication now truly today.".

During his appearance on the YouTube channel 'Today is Hwang Je-seong' on the 11th, Jung discussed his recent life and broadcasting activities while conversing with comedian Hwang Je-seong. While maintaining his signature witty banter and provocative way of speaking, the mood shifted when the conversation turned to programs he had previously appeared in, leading him to mention his anxiety disorder.

When Hwang Je-seong asked about his current status, Jung responded that he is "living well," but jokingly added, "I wonder if I've reached a level where I have to come whenever you call me." He even used the situation of appearing as a junior to Hwang Je-seong as a subject for a joke, saying, "I couldn't even tell my kids that Daddy was going to work. I just told them I was going out for some fresh air."

When Hwang Je-seong countered that Jung often hangs up the phone while playing games, Jung quipped, "Since I have no work, I play games as much as a professional player." This self-deprecating remark about his recent broadcasting workload was made while jokingly claiming he is as skilled at 'Battleground' and 'Overwatch' as professional gamers.

However, the conversation, which had been wrapped in laughter, took a heavier tone upon the mention of the program 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.' When Hwang Je-seong asked about the status of the show, Jung responded, "Are you asking if I was fired?" before adding, "It's a heartbreaking story, yet you ask it so brightly," calling back to his past.

Jung stated, "Didn't I quit broadcasting because of my anxiety disorder when I was at the height of my career?" He then revealed that he is still taking medication, making it clear that he continues his treatment for anxiety disorder to this day.

This statement is noteworthy because Jung Hyung-don's anxiety disorder was not merely a temporary period of poor condition, but a major variable that changed the direction of his broadcasting career several times. In November 2015, as his anxiety symptoms worsened, he completely stepped away from his ongoing programs. At the time, his agency explained that "the anxiety disorder he had suffered from for a long time had recently worsened.".

At that time, Jung was one of the most active figures in the entertainment industry, serving as a core member of the MBC variety show 'Infinite Challenge' and a host of the JTBC show 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.' In particular, as a pillar of 'Infinite Challenge' alongside Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myung-soo, Jung Jun-ha, Haha, and Kwanghee, his departure was regarded as a major event in the Korean entertainment industry beyond just an individual's absence. In fact, the 'Infinite Challenge' team announced his temporary departure while citing his health issues.

His departure from broadcasting also clearly revealed the gap between his well-known image as a "funny person" and his actual life. While on screen, Jung Hyung-don would employ more aggressive jokes and persistently probe the weaknesses of others, yet internally, he was fighting against anxiety.

After a hiatus of approximately 10 months, Jung returned to broadcasting in September 2016 through the program 'Weekly Idol.' Although he stood before the microphone again after treatment and rest, anxiety disorder was not entirely a thing of the past.

In November 2020, his anxiety symptoms worsened again, leading to another total suspension of his broadcasting activities. At the time, his agency stated that although Jung had a strong will to continue broadcasting, they decided on a hiatus after sufficient consultation with him, prioritizing his health. This demonstrates that anxiety disorder was a long-term issue that required repeated management throughout his career.

About a month later, in December 2020, Jung announced his return to broadcasting. The agency explained that he had focused on treatment while spending time with his family, and that his health had improved through consistent treatment. The important aspect was not just the return itself, but the method of "returning to broadcasting while continuing treatment.".

Jung has also previously opened up about his experiences and tendencies regarding feeling anxiety. On the tvN program 'Secret Garden' in 2018, he described himself as having a "glass-like personality" and confessed to fearing strangers after a specific incident. He also mentioned that excessive worries about death followed an experience of turbulence during a flight. While it is impossible to define the cause of his anxiety as a single event based on his explanation at the time, it shows that he has been experiencing anxiety symptoms for a long time.

What draws even more attention in this recent confession is that Jung did not describe his condition in an overly tragic manner. When Hwang Je-seong offered consolation, suggesting it was fortunate that there were treatment methods available, Jung responded with another joke, lowering the emotional intensity of the conversation. He spoke of anxiety disorder not as a stigma to be erased from his life, but as a part of reality that he manages while living alongside it.

For Jung, variety shows have long been both his livelihood and a space to prove his existence. After making a name for himself on 'Infinite Challenge,' he built a unique character through various programs such as 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' and 'Weekly Idol.' His speaking style, which fluctuates between 'japdori' (aggressive teasing) and self-deprecation, became his signature comedic grammar.

However, this statement serves as a reminder that another layer of life exists behind that comedic grammar. The health issues of a broadcaster are often consumed only through results like "stepping down" or "returning," but for the person involved, there is a continuous period of treatment, self-management, and adjusting the balance between family and daily life even during breaks.

In particular, mental health issues are difficult to explain through a simple dichotomy of complete recovery and relapse. Jung Hyung-don underwent a hiatus in 2015 and another in 2020, yet he returned to broadcasting and, as he expressed, continues medication treatment. This shows that a return to broadcasting does not imply the complete disappearance of symptoms.

The way Jung Hyung-don brought up his anxiety disorder in this broadcast is also quite different from the past. While anxiety disorder was a decisive reason for halting his activities in the past, it has now become a subject he explains relatively calmly within jokes and everyday conversation.

Ultimately, Jung Hyung-don's confession is less of a success story about "overcoming anxiety disorder" and more of a real-time record of a broadcaster continuing his daily life while carrying the symptoms. The fact that a person whose profession is to provide laughter can now speak about his anxiety without completely hiding it shows another change that has occurred between his departure from the broadcasting industry 11 years ago and today.