Actor Kang Shin-il returned to set just 2 weeks after liver cancer surgery, driven by debt

Actor Kang Shin-il, 65, has revealed why he had no choice but to return to the set just two weeks after undergoing surgery for liver cancer at the age of 47.

Kang and his wife Oh Su-mi, married 37 years, appeared Tuesday on the SBS variety program "Dongsang Imong Season 2 — You Are My Destiny," a couples reality show, where they looked back on his battle with liver cancer.

Kang said he was diagnosed with liver cancer five years after breaking into the film industry following a long career in theater. He was 47 at the time and the father of three children.

His wife Oh recalled that an abnormal blood test result had prompted doctors to recommend a CT scan, but that Kang put it off because he had a performance to attend. "After 'Public Enemy,' work piled up, and he was running around on his own without even a manager," she said.

Kang was ultimately diagnosed with liver cancer and underwent surgery. But with barely any time to recover, he headed back to the set just two weeks later.

"I filmed the SBS drama series 'Golden Bride' wearing an abdominal brace," Kang said, adding that the biggest reason was a sense of responsibility. He said debts and financial losses accumulated over many years of marriage had been a heavy burden.

Driven by the need to pay off those debts as quickly as possible, he appeared in films without a break for five or six years and continued doing theater work alongside a packed filming schedule — until his health finally gave out.

Even as surgery approached, Kang could not put his mind at ease. He was particularly worried because his youngest daughter was in first grade at the time. Still, he reassured his family, telling his wife, "I'm going to come through the surgery just fine and get back on my feet. I have a lot left to do."

Kang made his debut in 1985 in the theater production "Yeonwoo Mudae" and went on to earn wide affection for his scene-stealing supporting performances in films including "Silmido," "Our Happy Time," "Han Peninsula" and "Deranged," as well as the drama series "Descendants of the Sun" and "Mr. Sunshine."