Folk singer Ahn Chi-hwan has revealed that he was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer a decade ago, a battle he is opening up about on MBN’s “Kim Joo-ha’s Day & Night” airing October 17.
According to Sports Chosun’s preview of the show’s 47th episode, the singer known as the “balladeer of the era” marks his 40th debut anniversary this year and shares how the illness taught him the importance of taking care of his health.
Ahn recalled that the harsh treatment cost him more than 15 kilograms, a grueling period he described with calm composure. He admitted he had once been strict and sharp-edged, but said the battle completely changed how he views life, leaving him wanting to be “more generous and broader-minded.”
“I am in the best physical condition of my entire life right now,” Ahn said of his recovery, adding that “living healthily is a courtesy to the people who cheered me on.”
The episode also sees Ahn address his past as a folk singer rooted in labor songs. After hits like “If I Were” and “People Are More Beautiful Than Flowers” brought him mainstream fame, he was branded a “turncoat” for departing from the era’s protest repertoire. “The world changes, so songs cannot keep the same content,” he countered, saying he expanded his musical horizon rather than abandoning it.
Ahn will celebrate the milestone with a 40th anniversary, 15th album commemorative concert in Seoul on November 7.
