“Canceled a recording for the first time in 35 years”... Yoo Jae-suk reveals what happened at the time

[Financial News]  Broadcaster Yoo Jae-suk explained why he canceled a recording on the day for the first time in his 35-year broadcasting career due to health problems. He said he had worried that sudden throat pain and a fever might mean COVID-19 or the flu, but fortunately there was nothing seriously wrong.
The video “A Detective Game Is Just an Excuse,” released on the YouTube channel “DdeunDdeun–Pinggyego” on the 10th, featured Song Eun-i, Go Kyung-pyo and Bibi, who appear on tvN’s “Sixth Sense: B-Side.”
During the conversation, Song Eun-i brought up how she had contacted Yoo Jae-suk after hearing that he was having health problems. She said, “An article recently came out saying Jae-suk was sick, so I texted to ask if he was okay. He replied, ‘I’m fine.’ He said he’d heard a lot about it.”
Yoo Jae-suk said that although he usually goes to filming even when he is unwell, he worried at the time that his sudden throat pain and fever could be due to an infectious disease. He explained, “I usually tough it out and go to recordings even when I’m sick, but (that morning) my throat suddenly hurt so much. I also had a bit of a fever. It crossed my mind that it might be COVID or the flu. It wasn’t to the point where I couldn’t get up.”
He said the nature of the filming also played a part in his decision to cancel. Since the schedule involved meeting members of the public in person and traveling to several locations, he decided it would be difficult to go ahead. Yoo Jae-suk said, “For something we do among our own members, I could go to the hospital and, if I felt better in the afternoon, we could push back the time and carry on. But that shoot involved meeting members of the public and going here and there, so I didn’t feel confident about it. That’s why I postponed it.”
He said that after receiving treatment at the hospital, he felt better and asked whether filming could resume, but the cast and production crew had already dispersed.
Yoo Jae-suk said, “I was very grateful that so many people reached out and worried about me, but I was really taken aback. I thought, ‘It’s not like I’m that sick.’” He added, “Fortunately, after getting a shot in the morning, I felt better in the afternoon. It wasn’t COVID or the flu. So I called again and asked, ‘Could we possibly film again?’ but they said everyone had already dispersed.”
After hearing Yoo Jae-suk’s explanation, Song Eun-i joked, “I thought the mother of the nation had collapsed.” Yoo Jae-suk expressed both gratitude and regret that more people than he had expected had worried about his health. He said, “‘For the first time in 35 years’—I guess everyone thought something serious had happened. I’m sorry I caused concern unintentionally, and I’m grateful for your support.”
The recording Yoo Jae-suk canceled due to health problems was for Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS)’s “Whenever Possible,” which had been scheduled for the 22nd of last month. At the time, he had canceled that day’s schedule because of cold symptoms and body aches.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter