Kim Jong-kook reveals struggle with vestibular neuritis and halted boxing

Singer Kim Jong-kook revealed he suffered from vestibular neuritis, a condition causing extreme dizziness that prevented him from driving, walking, and eating or drinking for two days. During a broadcast on the 10th, he discussed his health management and expressed plans to resume boxing after having previously stopped due to the illness.

Singer Kim Jong-kook has drawn attention to the condition known as vestibular neuritis after revealing he suffered from the illness, which causes extreme dizziness. Even for Kim, who is famous for his thorough self-management and intense exercise, the symptoms were severe enough to make driving and even walking difficult. The revelation of his condition, during which he was unable to properly consume food or water for two days, has highlighted the risks and recovery process associated with vestibular neuritis.

In the SBS Plus and MBN entertainment program 'A Man's Way to Travel in Manado' broadcast on the 10th, Kim Jong-kook was shown visiting a local gym in Indonesia with Choo Sung-hoon and Ahn Jae-hyun. While examining exercise equipment, Kim expressed his characteristic love for working out and discussed health management. During this process, he drew interest by revealing plans to resume boxing, which he had previously stopped due to health issues.

Kim Jong-kook previously disclosed that he experienced intense dizziness due to vestibular neuritis. At the time, he stated that he could not properly drink water or eat food for two days, and his condition was so poor that driving was difficult. For Kim, who has made exercise a part of his daily life, a disease that limits physical balance and movement appears to have acted as an even greater constraint.

Vestibular neuritis is a condition that occurs when inflammation or dysfunction arises in the vestibular nerve, which transmits balance information from the vestibular organs located inside the ear to the brain. If this nerve does not function normally, the brain has difficulty accurately perceiving the body's movement and position, which can result in the sudden onset of rotational dizziness where the surroundings seem to spin. Key characteristics also include nausea, vomiting, and balance disorders.

When symptoms are severe, daily life can become virtually impossible. Dizziness may worsen with even slight head movements, and there are cases where it becomes difficult to stand or walk alone. If food and fluid intake is limited due to repetitive vomiting and severe nausea, the risk of dehydration increases. Kim Jong-kook's situation, where he revealed he could not eat or drink properly for two days, may be related to these acute symptoms.

Vestibular neuritis differs from BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), which is often confused with it. BPPV generally presents as short, repetitive bouts of dizziness when moving the head in specific directions. In contrast, vestibular neuritis can involve severe dizziness that occurs suddenly and lasts from several hours to several days, with symptoms appearing even when staying still and worsening with movement. However, because it is difficult to distinguish between the two diseases based on dizziness alone, an accurate diagnosis is required.

While acute symptoms of vestibular neuritis often gradually subside over time, the disappearance of dizziness does not mean balance returns to normal immediately. It can take weeks to months for the body to receive and adapt to new balance information, and some patients continue to experience feelings of instability when walking or turning their heads. Depending on a medical professional's judgment, vestibular rehabilitation exercises may be helpful during the recovery process.

In particular, sudden and severe dizziness should be treated with caution, as it can appear in other serious conditions such as a stroke, not just vestibular neuritis. If dizziness is accompanied by double vision, speech abnormalities, weakness in one arm or leg, or severe walking impairment, emergency medical care should be sought immediately. Even if symptoms occur for the first time or persist severely, they should not be neglected by assuming they are simply an ear disease.

For Kim Jong-kook, who was famous for his strict exercise routines and self-management, vestibular neuritis was an experience that halted both his daily life and his workouts. His confession regarding the difficulty of driving and the suspension of boxing demonstrates how significantly severe dizziness can impact physical activity. However, as specific details regarding Kim's current symptoms and the extent of his recovery are not known, interest is growing in how his plan to return to boxing will align with his actual health recovery.

Read the original (Korean)