[Herald Muse]
[Herald Muse]

Actor Kwon Oh-joong, 54, has published his first essay, titled "So That Pain Does Not End as Pain."

Kwon announced the release Monday on his social media, writing: "On my wife's birthday — she who never let go of my hand in my darkest moments and led me toward the light — a book containing my shameful life and our family's miracle has come into the world."

The essay chronicles the emotions and realizations Kwon experienced while helping his son, who lives with an extremely rare disease, navigate his illness.

Kwon's son, Hyeokjun, 29, has MICU1, a condition with only 15 known cases worldwide and just one in South Korea — Hyeokjun himself. The disease is accompanied by muscle atrophy and developmental disabilities, and no definitive treatment currently exists.

After graduating from university in 2023, Hyeokjun began painting and held his debut exhibition at Seoul Arts Center, where he also sold works. He went on to present his art at invitational events in Seattle and New York, and on Saturday he received a Western painting award at the 2026 Korea Entertainment Awards ceremony held at the National Assembly Members' Hall.

Kwon described his son as "my proud Hyeokjun, who walks a little slower than others but lives each day with all his strength, gifting miracles to his father's life at every turn."

The book's cover features a painting by Hyeokjun himself. "I am grateful that he, now a proud artist in his own right, Kwon Hyeokjun, has beautifully illuminated the cover of this book," Kwon wrote.

Actor Cha In-pyo played a significant role in bringing the essay to life. Cha encouraged Kwon to publish, telling him, "Many people will find comfort through your life." Kwon said the support helped him realize that "what I believed was a pitch-dark cave was in fact a tunnel I could walk out of."

The book's release date also happened to be the birthday of Kwon's wife, Eom Yun-gyeong.

Eom wrote on her own social media that she felt tears welling up the moment she opened the first page, adding: "Thank you so much and I love you, Actor Kwon, Writer Kwon — you have allowed me to look back on every moment we shared together with renewed appreciation."


paq@heraldcorp.com