"I had part of my lung removed twice"... Former Blue House chef Cheon Sang-hyun reveals cancer battle: "I was filming while on chemotherapy"

[The Financial News] Cheon Sang-hyun, who appeared on the Netflix cooking reality show "Culinary Class Wars Season 2" as a former Blue House chef, has revealed that he is battling cancer.
In a video posted on the YouTube channel "One Mic" on the 21st, Cheon Sang-hyun shared how he has been doing and also talked about what went on behind the scenes of "Culinary Class Wars Season 2."
Cheon said, "I was invited to appear in Season 1 of 'Culinary Class Wars,' but I was sick at the time," adding, "My cancer had recurred and I needed another surgery, so I couldn’t take part in the filming."
He went on, "I’ve had surgery and I’m currently taking chemotherapy medication. I’ve had two operations and had part of my lung removed twice. I take one chemotherapy pill a day," revealing his fight against cancer.
He also added, "There was a tumor in my head, and they suspected it was a meningioma. I received radiation therapy, and because I also have noise-induced hearing loss, I often have trouble understanding what people are saying."
Cheon Sang-hyun drew attention for his background as a dedicated chef at Cheong Wa Dae (the Blue House), and on "Culinary Class Wars Season 2" his quiet, moving showdown with his mentor, chef Hu Deok-juk, became a hot topic. Regarding how he came to be recommended as a Blue House chef, he explained, "Because Chinese cuisine at Hotel Shilla was very well known, I heard that a request came in asking my mentor to recommend someone. I submitted my résumé, they did an initial review, and after a two-month background check I was finally selected."
He continued, "I told my mentor, 'I’ll serve the president well for five years,' and he replied, 'I’ve already arranged for you to return to your original post.'" He added modestly, "Normally, when the president changes, the chefs change as well, but I was fortunate enough to remain for 20 years. Luck probably accounted for 40–50% of it."
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter