Comedian and TV personality Jo Se-ho / Courtesy of tvN
Comedian Jo Se-ho said he has been receiving psychiatric care, adding that he initially felt afraid to visit a clinic.
On the Dec. 26 episode of tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block,” psychiatrist Lee Kyung-joon appeared to discuss the drama “The Dream Life of Mr. Kim,” which features a protagonist dealing with panic disorder.
Lee said the show portrays a realistic case. “The main character is exactly the type of person who comes to the hospital. It is very similar to real life,” he said.
He added that people who have lived with strong achievement-oriented goals often face losses in their 50s. “This is the age when people experience changes such as retirement and also go through menopause. There are losses related to health as well,” he said.
He added that the accumulated sense of loss leads to a period when “everything they had avoided facing comes at once.”
Lee said many middle-aged patients do not fully disclose their symptoms. “Most seek treatment because of panic or anxiety, but even those with moderate or severe depression say, ‘I am not depressed at all,’” he said. “They feel that admitting to depression means their life has failed or has fallen apart, so they downplay their suffering.”
Jo responded by saying he chooses to be honest about his condition. “That is why I tell everything,” he said. “I go to a psychiatric clinic and take medication.”
He added, “There are stressful situations while working, and I was afraid to go to the hospital at first. But I began to think that if I go, I might get better and live more healthily.”
Lee agreed, saying, “That is right.” He encouraged middle-aged viewers not to hesitate in seeking help. “For the first time in their lives, they need to make choices for their own comfort. They should let go of the reluctance toward psychiatric treatment,” he said.
This article is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.