Yoon Do Hyun Reveals Battle With Rare Cancer

Singer Yoon Do-hyun revealed his feelings during his battle with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a rare blood cancer, and his special relationship with Kim Jung-il, the CEO of his agency and a friend of 30 years. Yoon Do-hyun received the diagnosis during a health check-up in 2021 and, after a three-year battle, was declared fully recovered in August 2023.

Appearing on episode 393 of MBC's "The Manager," Yoon Do-hyun was joined by Kim Jung-il, the agency CEO with whom he has had a relationship for 30 years. The two shared old memories and difficult moments over a meal. CEO Kim recalled the time when a fan mentioned how they endured their own battle with the same illness that Yoon Do-hyun was fighting, finding strength by listening to YB's music, and were eventually declared cancer-free.

CEO Kim recalled the first time he heard the news of Yoon Do-hyun's cancer diagnosis, revealing that Yoon Do-hyun told him about his illness before his wife. Yoon Do-hyun explained his reason for telling him first, saying, "It was a pain I wanted to overcome and get through together." CEO Kim stated that he considered pausing work to prioritize Yoon Do-hyun's health, but Yoon Do-hyun insisted on carrying on as usual, trying to maintain a positive energy. He added that it was heartbreaking to see Yoon Do-hyun push through his schedules without showing any signs of difficulty, even during the challenging period of medication.

Yoon Do-hyun will showcase his touching family love and friendship by calmly revealing that his daughter cried after learning about his battle. Additionally, his "Rock 'n' Roll Hideout," reflecting Yoon Do-hyun's tastes, will be unveiled. The space, filled with various camping gear and vintage music equipment, will feature the free time of the two men.

CEO Kim Jung-il shared his journey from being a fan of Yoon Do-hyun to becoming his agency's CEO. He mentioned that he had collected all of Yoon Do-hyun's albums since the cassette tape era and was an "ardent fan" who frequented concerts, wanting to speak with Yoon Do-hyun. After entering the industry by chance, he worked as a manager for various artists including Park Jin-young, Koyote, Boohwal, and Buzz, and has now been with Yoon Do-hyun for 12 years. CEO Kim expressed his sincere feelings, stating, "Yoon Do-hyun is my first and last artist."