Moon Geun Young Tells All About The Pain She Endured While Battling Rare Disease

Actress Moon Geun Young mentioned her experience of undergoing four surgeries due to the rare disease acute compartment syndrome, and a clear scar still remained on her right arm.

On the tvN show You Quiz on the Block aired on the 22nd, Moon Geun Young appeared and shared various stories, including her time as a child actress enjoying great popularity as the “Nation’s Little Sister” and her inner struggles considering retirement after suddenly developing acute compartment syndrome.

Moon rose to fame as the child version of Song Hye Kyo’s character in the drama Autumn in My Heart. She gained national love with hit works such as the films A Tale of Two Sisters, My Little Bride, and the dramas Painter of the Wind and Cinderella’s Stepsister. However, nine years ago, she was diagnosed with the rare disease acute compartment syndrome and underwent four major surgeries, causing her to halt all acting activities and endure a difficult period.

Moon recounted that nine years ago, while preparing for a performance in the provinces, she slipped on an icy road, which caused her arm to swell. At a university hospital, it was discovered that it was not a simple fracture. Following the doctor’s recommendation to get an MRI due to the unusual condition, she was diagnosed with acute compartment syndrome in 2017. She explained, “When the fascia surrounding the muscles is compressed, blood can’t flow, and this causes an emergency condition. That’s why it’s called ‘acute.’”

After hearing that the “golden time had passed and necrosis might have occurred,” Moon underwent her first emergency surgery. She recalled, “I have no memory because of the anesthesia, but I heard that I told my mother, ‘I’m so happy because I can finally rest with peace of mind.’ My mom said she went outside and cried when she heard that.”

She continued, “I didn’t realize the wound was so large, and because the scar could reopen if the wound was closed, my arm was left open. I was wrapped in a bandage five times the size of my arm. When the bandage was removed and I first saw the wound, I thought, ‘Wow, this is serious.’ I was relieved that the necrosis hadn’t progressed. But when I heard that ‘the nerves in the fingers might not recover and that area was serious,’ I cried. I always cried alone.”

Afterward, she underwent three more surgeries and required a long rehabilitation period. Moon said, “Because the nerves were dead, I had to do rehabilitation to revive them. After surgery, I couldn’t even make a fist. I couldn’t even straighten my hand, so I ate with my left hand. At first, I ate using a fork, and then I practiced using chopsticks with my left hand.” She added, “That’s when I thought, ‘I might not be able to act anymore.’ I was deeply worried I wouldn’t be able to use my arm. When I gradually got better, I practiced using my arm by flipping coins.” She also revealed that she seriously considered retiring from acting.