Hwang Chul-soon (43), a sports trainer famous for his persona as the "Jing Man," shared an update regarding his infection with scrub typhus.
On the 10th, Hwang posted on social media, "I went traveling with my dog and got infected with the tick virus called scrub typhus, resulting in memory loss and meningitis, which required a two-week hospital stay." He added, "(My weight) also dropped by 12 kg."
He stated, "After being discharged, I had a bone fragment removed from my pelvis for a biopsy. Additionally, I was banned from exercising and using saunas for two weeks, and then received an additional one-month exercise ban after a bone marrow test. At this point, it is clearly a conspiracy by the hospital and the government to force me into retirement," expressing his dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, he also displayed a positive attitude, saying, "It seems the world still doesn't know if I am a phoenix" and "I can't even imagine how much stronger I will become."
Scrub typhus is a disease contracted through bites from larval chigger mites carrying the scrub typhus bacterium. Symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and general weakness may appear within 10 days of infection, with the formation of an eschar (black scab) at the bite site being a primary characteristic.
In South Korea, approximately 3,000 to 6,000 cases of scrub typhus occur annually. Cases are concentrated in October and November, when the activity of larval chigger mites increases.
If an eschar suspected to be from a tick bite is found after outdoor activities, or if symptoms such as fever or rash appear within 10 days, one should suspect scrub typhus and promptly visit a medical institution for treatment.
Hwang previously gained recognition by appearing on a comedy program in the role of the "Jing Man," who strikes a gong. He married fitness model Ji Eun-a in 2020 and had two sons, but the marriage ended after three years.
In October 2023, he was prosecuted on charges of assaulting his ex-partner's face and head with his fists more than 20 times at a building in Yeosu City, South Jeolla Province. He served a prison sentence and was released in February of last year.
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