Kim Woobin Opens Up About Cancer Pain and Acting Career

Kim Woobin gets candid about his cancer journey.
He found a positive perspective after his illness.
His acting career began quite reluctantly at first.

Kim Woobin recently got incredibly candid, pulling back the curtain on two of the most defining aspects of his life which is his past battle with a serious illness and the unexpected journey of his acting career.

In a revealing appearance on the popular YouTube talk show Fairy Jaehyung, the actor opened up about the unimaginable pain of nasopharyngeal cancer and, with refreshing humility, traced his path from a model who swore he'd never act to the celebrated star he is today.

Kim Woobin Gets Candid About His Cancer Journey

Appearing on the October 12, 2025, episode of Fairy Jaehyung, Kim Woobin delved into the challenging period when he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in 2017. The actor, who successfully recovered and resumed activities in 2019, shared profound reflections on that difficult time.

He revealed that the illness forced him to drop out of projects, including director Choi Donghoon's film Wiretap, a month after being cast.

"I found out I was sick a month after I was cast in director Choi Dong-hoon's film 'Wiretap.' It made me think a lot," Kim Woobin shared.

In a touching turn of events, the director later reached out to him for Alien+Human after his recovery, which Kim Woobin did right away.

When it came to the physical suffering, the actor’s recollection was striking.

"The pain from nasopharyngeal cancer is beyond imagination... I don't even remember the pain," Woobin revealed.

"Actually, I don't remember the pain. The level was so high... That's why the pain didn't remain with me," he elaborateed.

Instead of the agony, Woobin chooses to focus on the positive transformation that period brought.

"The times I was sick are meaningful to me. Because of that, the times of rest only gave me good gifts," he reflected.

This perspective led him to a greater appreciation for life's fundamentals, adding, "I realized that there were so many things I took for granted, such as loving others and others loving me. After that, my heart feels so good."

From Reluctant Actor to a 14-Year Career

While his health battle was a significant chapter, the conversation also explored the roots of his enduring 14-year acting career, a path he never initially wanted.

Kim Woobin confessed that his original life plan was entirely different.

"I took basic acting classes in college, but it wasn't something I could choose. I said, 'I don't want to be an actor'. I said I was going to be a model and a professor. If you have a goal, you have to aim for it," Kim Woobin confessed.

The turning point came through his modeling work, specifically when he started filming commercials.

"But as I continued modeling, models also filmed commercials, and during interviews, they asked me to act. I wondered if I could handle the storyboard. That's when I felt like an idiot," he admitted with humor.

"I just kept practicing posing and walking. I realized that if I wanted to be a good model, I had to be an actor," Kim Woobin continued.

This epiphany led him to his first acting teacher, Moon Wonjoo, and he discovered a genuine passion for the craft, noting that "acting was so much fun," and even "getting scolded was fun."

This reluctant start makes his current success all the more meaningful. After rising to fame with rebellious roles in hits like School 2013 and The Heirs, and now, after his health recovery, Kim Woobin is back in the spotlight. He is currently winning the hearts of global audiences as 'Genie, Make a Wish' in the hit Netflix fantasy romance series, co-starring Suzy, proving that his journey of self-discovery and resilience continues to resonate on screen.

Watch Kim Woobin's full confession here:

Source: OSEN, Star News, YouTube/fairyjaehyung