“This Scar? It’s from Donating My Liver to My Mom” — Lee Joo-an’s Heartfelt Confession ‘Omniscient Interfering View’
Image : ⓒ MBC’s variety show ‘Omniscient Interfering View’
Actor Lee Ju-an (이주안) shared the story of how he donated part of his liver to his mother.
A visible scar sparked a powerful confession on the latest episode of MBC’s variety show ‘Omniscient Interfering View’ (전지적 참견 시점), as actor Lee Ju-an revealed the deeply personal reason behind the mark on his abdomen: he donated a portion of his liver to his mother.
Appearing as a guest on the October 18 episode, Lee Ju-an, who plays the character Gong Gil in the drama ‘Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’ (폭군의 셰프), surprised viewers when footage aired showing his toned abs—and the surgery scar that runs across his stomach. He explained, “It’s a scar from when I donated part of my liver to my mother.”
Image : (A surgical scar from donating part of my liver to my mother! / About 8 years ago! / My mother had long suffered from cirrhosis.) ⓒ MBC’s variety show ‘Omniscient Interfering View’
Lee shared that eight years ago, his mother was diagnosed with cirrhosis and needed a liver transplant. “At first, two out of three doctors advised against it because my liver was smaller than average. Even my mother didn’t want me to go through with it,” he recalled. But when she eventually fell into a coma due to liver cancer, Lee made a decision: “It was just the two of us. I thought, ‘Let me give her back what I got from her.’ That’s when I decided to proceed with the surgery.”
Image : (I went to the hospital to donate my liver to her. / Doctors didn’t approve the surgery because my liver was too small. / With the thought, “Let me return a part of what came from my mother’s body,” I decided to go through with the surgery.) ⓒ MBC’s variety show ‘Omniscient Interfering View’
He went on to reveal, “They removed around 79 to 80 percent of my liver. Before the surgery, the doctors explained a hundred possible reasons I could die—but I still went into the operating room.” He added that on the very night he was discharged, complications arose near his gallbladder, and he had to be rushed to the ER. “That same day, my mom was discharged and came to visit me in the hospital,” he said with a soft smile.
Now, Lee says his mother has made a full recovery and is maintaining good health. “I wasn’t scared for myself,” he said. “My biggest fear was something happening to her.”
His heartfelt story resonated deeply with viewers, offering a rare glimpse into the actor’s personal life and the immense love he holds for his family.
