Actor Jeon Won-ju. [YouTube]
Actor Jeon Won-ju. [YouTube]

Actor Jeon Won-ju has revealed a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, a condition considered a precursor to dementia. Mild cognitive impairment refers to a state in which cognitive function has declined more noticeably than normal age-related memory loss, but not to the degree that it significantly impairs daily functioning.

Jeon shared the news on "Unpogetteul Duet 2," an MBN music variety program set to premiere Saturday. "These days I can't recognize people quickly," Jeon said. "Someone told me we had met recently, but I couldn't remember. My memory is gradually getting worse."

Jeon also said the diagnosis placed the condition at the stage before dementia. "I was scared and frightened by the anxiety of possibly forgetting my life and the people who matter to me," Jeon said, explaining why Jeon agreed to appear on the show. "But I thought I should preserve who I am today alongside the people I cherish. I wanted to engrave the memories I still hold deeply."

Jeon then declared: "Jeon Won-ju isn't dead yet. This is just the beginning."

Mild cognitive impairment is a condition in which memory or other cognitive functions show measurable decline on objective tests, yet the ability to carry out daily activities remains intact. According to medical information from Seoul National University Hospital, the key distinction from dementia lies in that impact on daily life.

Dementia involves deterioration not only in memory but also in language ability, judgment and spatial awareness, making independent living difficult. Patients with mild cognitive impairment, by contrast, can still manage basic daily tasks on their own despite memory decline.

Not everyone with mild cognitive impairment goes on to develop dementia. Seoul National University Hospital puts the annual rate of progression to dementia among mild cognitive impairment patients at about 10 to 15 percent — higher than the 1 to 2 percent annual rate seen in cognitively normal older adults.

Jeon was born in 1939 and is 88 by Korean age reckoning. Jeon made a debut in 1963 as a first-generation voice actor at Dong-A Broadcasting and has since worked across theater, drama series and film.

Meanwhile, "Unpogetteul Duet 2" is a music entertainment program in which guests perform duets of life-defining songs alongside family members losing their memories to dementia. Kim Ju-ha and Son Tae-jin serve as hosts, with Cho Hye-ryeon and Apink's Yoon Bo-mi joining as panelists. The show airs Saturday at 9:20 p.m.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com