Singer Lee Sang-soon returns to radio after health scare, looking thinner but upbeat

Singer Lee Sang-soon, who had briefly stepped away from work due to health issues, shared an update on his condition following his return as a radio DJ.

On Wednesday, the official channel of MBC FM4U's "A Perfect Day with Lee Sang-soon" released photos of Lee posing alongside singer Thomas Cook. It marked the first time a photo of Lee's face had been made public since his return.

Lee appeared smiling next to Thomas Cook, looking generally healthy — though he was noticeably thinner than before.

Lee had been unable to appear on the live broadcast from Aug. 26, after which his agency Antenna said he had suddenly fallen ill, received medical attention and been advised by doctors to rest following a diagnosis of reduced vagus nerve function.

The agency added that it would do everything it could to support his recovery.

After about a month of recuperation, Lee returned to the DJ booth Monday, reuniting with his listeners.

The vagus nerve is a parasympathetic nerve that runs from the brain to major organs including the heart, lungs and stomach, playing a key role in the autonomic nervous system by regulating heart rate and blood pressure.

When the vagus nerve malfunctions or reacts excessively, heart rate and blood pressure can drop sharply, temporarily reducing blood flow to the brain. Common triggers include severe physical fatigue, chronic stress, sleep deprivation and prolonged standing. Symptoms can include nausea, cold sweats, a sensation of heat or pallor, blurred or narrowed vision, a feeling of fullness in the ears and a sudden loss of strength throughout the body.

Born in 1974, Lee made his name as a musician with the band Rollercoaster. He married singer Lee Hyo-ri in 2013, and the couple later won widespread affection for their low-key Jeju lifestyle on the JTBC show "Hyoriene Minbak." He has hosted "A Perfect Day with Lee Sang-soon" since November 2024 and took home the radio excellence award at last year's MBC Broadcasting Entertainment Awards.