'Parasite' Star Park So Dam Diagnosed With Thyroid Cancer, Forced To Pull Out Of All Movie Promotions
Park So Dam, the South Korean actress who became famous after her role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite, has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
According to a statement made by So Dam’s agency, ArtistCompany, her thyroid cancer was found while the 30-year-old actress was undergoing a regular health check. She has since undergone surgery to try to remove the cancer.
"Around 9 in every 10 people are alive 5 years after a diagnosis of thyroid cancer," the UK’s National Health Service states on its website. "Many of these are cured and will have a normal lifespan."
The NHS also says that papillary thyroid cancer, the kind that So Dam was sadly diagnosed with, is the most common type of thyroid cancer. They also say papillary thyroid cancer is an easier diagnosis to treat versus other types of cancer.
Unfortunately, the actress’ diagnosis and treatment have left her “very disappointed” because the illness has interrupted her plans to promote her newest upcoming film, Special Delivery.
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"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," her agency said in the statement to CNN.
"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," the statement added.
Although So-dam was featured in a handful of different South Korean movies, such as The Priests and The Silenced both in 2015, her true breakout film and claim to fame was starring in the critically-acclaimed movie Parasite in 2019.
Parasite, in which she plays Kim Ki Jung, a young woman from a poor family who acts as an art therapist so she can get a job teaching the kids of a much richer family, was directed by Bong Joon Ho. It was the first South Korean film to ever win Best Picture at the Academy Awards in February 2020.
