Kim Byeong-jun Confesses to Battle with Illness and Lower Body Paralysis During 25-Year Professional Football Career

Former professional football player Kim Byeong-jun revealed the chronic health issues he suffered through during his 25-year career and the state of lower body paralysis that arrived after his retirement. In a video uploaded to the YouTube channel Dongchimi, Kim Byeong-jun mentioned the process of battling illness that began with side effects from a past appendectomy and his current physical state.

A life of battling illness from appendectomy side effects to rhinitis surgery

Kim Byeong-jun shared that he suffered from health problems for a long time due to issues that occurred after having an appendectomy in the past. According to his remarks in the video, he explained that his life of battling illness began due to problems during the appendectomy, such as pus continuously draining for a month. Later, during his second year of middle school, he even experienced a situation where 'the pressure in the eardrum was so full that he could not hear sounds' due to symptoms of sinusitis.

He revealed that he received treatment for chronic sinusitis for three years to treat these symptoms and even underwent surgery that involved shaving bone. Pointing directly to the area in the video, Kim Byeong-jun mentioned the fact that he underwent rhinitis surgery. He said that to manage these health issues, he focuses on regulating his condition by combining about eight different types of treatments, such as visiting oriental medicine clinics, manual therapy, foot acupressure, sports massage, and injection therapy. He also added that he manages his physical condition by taking many types of supplements, including vitamins and minerals.

25 years of professional life and lower body paralysis after retirement

Kim Byeong-jun, who was active as a professional football player for 25 years, shared the hardships of his player days when he had to play while managing pain according to the match schedule. He explained that when there was an important match, he would endure and play through with mental strength, but after the match ended, pain often arrived along with a state of exhaustion. He said he repeated this process while appearing in 153 matches.

In particular, Kim Byeong-jun mentioned the physical changes he experienced after retirement. He revealed that due to an accident that occurred one year ago, he suffered lower body paralysis, was hospitalized, underwent surgery, and that paralysis symptoms still remain currently. He explained that due to paralysis in the waist area, everyday walking is possible, but there are limitations to activities that require running as an athlete.

Responsibility for family and life during player days

Kim Byeong-jun also shared stories about his dedication to his family and his living environment during his playing days. He said that during his career, he moved about 15 to 20 times, but due to training and dormitory life, his wife took full charge of tasks such as moving belongings. He mentioned that after retirement, he must provide 'supportive help' by helping with housework for his wife who has suffered all this time.

Furthermore, he stated that as a football player, he approached matches with the responsibility of not being able to leave his position and the mindset of needing to earn money for his family. He conveyed his feelings from his player days when he played without sparing his body for the sake of his family.