South Korean actress Park So Dam, 30, has been diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.
The “Parasite” star rose to global fame for her breakout role in the Oscar-winning thriller by director Bong Joon-ho.
Park learned of her diagnosis following a recent physical with her doctor and later underwent surgery to remove the cancerous mass, her ArtistCompany representatives said in a statement to CNN.
Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer, affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans each year, mostly between the ages of 30 and 50, and more commonly seen in women than men. Those with Asian roots are also at a higher risk of developing the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute.
“Well-differentiated tumors [associated with papillary thyroid cancer] can be treated and can usually be cured,” the organization said.
Park is “very disappointed” to sit out the promotional tour of her next starring role in the South Korean crime drama “Special Delivery,” premiering in January 2022, according to the ArtistCompany’s statement.
“The company would like to once again thank all the people for showing support for ‘Special Delivery’ and actress Park So Dam, as well as the actors and crew of ‘Special Delivery’ overcoming this difficult time together,” the agency said.
“Actor Park So Dam will focus on her recovery so that she can see you all healthy in the future, and ArtistCompany will also do our best to help the actor recover her health,” they added.
Park’s career in South Korean film extends back years, but global notoriety came with “Parasite,” in which she played Kim Ki Jung, a young con artist who is hired by a wealthy family when she poses as an elite art therapist — in a scheme to help her family during financial hardship.
The film went on to earn the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020 — the first given to a non-English-language film and the first for a South Korean film.
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