'Japanese Media' Jang Geun-suk "Alternative service for bipolar disorder... It's not a lie, I think it can't be helped"

 

Jang Geun Suk opened up about the bipolar disorder he suffered from in the past and his military life.

Actor and singer Jang Geun-suk, who has continued his activities by releasing the singles 'Star' and 'Emotion' after being discharged from the military, recently drew attention by sharing his honest feelings in an interview with Japanese media.

In an interview with 'Yahoo (Japan) News', which was released on the 5th, Jang Geun-suk was candid about what he suffered from bipolar disorder (manic depression) after his 2011 Tokyo Dome performance and his military life after completing his military service as a social worker (alternative service). confided In Korea, in 2018, he was diagnosed with a grade 4 military service due to bipolar disorder and enlisted, raising suspicions that it is not a special military service exception.

Regarding the bipolar disorder that occurred in 2018, Jang Geun-suk said, "I felt empty the next morning after I succeeded in a solo concert at the Tokyo Dome in 2011, which I had been dreaming of since middle school. The dream of my life has come true, and I felt anxious about 'what should I do now and 'what kind of future will I have?' he said.

He said, "After that, my agency made an official announcement that I would enlist as a social worker due to bipolar disorder, and I didn't care. 'It's not a lie, it can't be helped. I thought, ‘This is life too. Before, I was the type to speak honestly no matter what questions someone asked, but no one dared to listen. I had to focus on the performance on stage or in front of the camera, and even if I say ‘it’s difficult,’ everyone worries me, so in my 20s, I never said the word ‘difficult’ in public.”

Jang Geun-suk boldly told the story of his alternative service at the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters. He added that he experienced a world completely different from the entertainment industry and helped develop a positive mind.

He said, “(During military service) I entered numbers in Excel. They cleaned, washed dishes, and carried 50 fans. There is no set routine, and when I go to work and wait nervously, I say 'Jang Geun-Seok-Kun, come here on the phone, and I say 'Yes!' and run to do anything. It was completely different from what I did for nearly 30 years,” he said.

Jang Geun-suk said that he realized that everyone was the protagonist of their own world from the mindset that 'you are the main character of the world and the best while experiencing the life of a non-celebrity through alternative service.

He said, "The manager who was in charge of me, who was four years old, dreamed of going to play golf once a month. Next to him was a man who was passionate about stocks. They each had their own things they liked and were the complete protagonists of their lives. I have always been suspicious of others and have closed the door of my heart so that I will not be hurt. Military life made me realize that there are many people in the world and that there is no standard for me to judge. I feel more relaxed and have a positive mood.”

Regarding his subsequent activities, he said, “I am preparing cooking contents under the nickname ‘Chef Yame’ that I use on social media. If there is an opportunity, I want to act a serious love story.”

After being discharged from the military, Jang Geun Suk released a single song one after another and topped the Japanese music charts. The digital single 'Star', released in March, topped the Japanese Line Music real-time chart, and the new song 'Emotion' released in May took first place on Line Music and Japan's iTunes, firmly maintaining its 'Asia Prince' position.