'Penbendazole Use' Kim Cheol-min, "Cancer Patients Are Easily Misled by Strange Products... A System to Distinguish 'Pseudo-Medical' Practices Must Be Created"

Comedian Kim Cheol-min [Image source = Kim Cheol-min's Facebook]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Comedian Kim Cheol-min, who stopped taking dog dewormer (fenbendazole) due to side effects while treating lung cancer, appeared at the National Assembly audit on the 22nd. He stated, "Cancer patients are easily swayed by strange products and suffer great losses," and emphasized, "There is a need to systematically manage the risks of unverified alternative therapies."

On the 22nd, comedian and singer Kim Cheol-min appeared at the National Assembly audit. He previously revealed that he took both human dewormers and dog dewormer (fenbendazole) twice a day, morning and afternoon, for lung cancer treatment. At the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare held by the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly that day, Kim participated as a witness and urged the establishment of management measures for alternative therapies.

Originally, Assemblywoman Shin Hyun-young of the Democratic Party of Korea planned to summon Kim, who took fenbendazole for lung cancer treatment, as a witness to inquire about improving the medical system for terminal cancer patients. Kim was initially scheduled to attend in person but was replaced by a recorded video due to poor health.

In the recorded video, Kim said, "I was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer on August 6, 2019, and the cancer had metastasized to my lymph nodes, liver, and bones," adding, "Many people sent me videos via social media and messengers claiming they were completely cured after taking fenbendazole for three months."

He continued, "(However) the cancer cells grew larger, and the metastasis was severe enough to require major surgery on my cervical vertebrae," and "The hospital advised that resistance to fenbendazole could make treatment more difficult, so I stopped taking it."

Furthermore, he said, "I also received suggestions to drink cactus powder in liquid form to cure cancer, and there was vinegar made from bamboo shoots. I was offered various alternative therapies for free to try," emphasizing, "Cancer patients are particularly susceptible to being misled by strange products and often do not fully understand the risks. Without proper consultation, individuals may think, 'If it helped someone else, it will help me too,' which leads to great misfortune."

Kim added, "I hope there would be doctors who provide professional consultations. Since the body changes daily, it would be beneficial to have specialists who can monitor these daily changes."

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo is responding during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency held on the 22nd at the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In response, Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, expressed agreement with Kim's position, stating, "There is a need to incorporate alternative therapies into the system." He also said, "I believe a medical system where cancer patients can have daily consultations or discussions about alternative therapies is essential," and added, "We will carefully consider how to implement this."

Assemblywoman Shin Hyun-young of the Democratic Party also said, "Although the government stated that scientific evidence for fenbendazole is insufficient, it is true that management of patients taking it was neglected," and argued, "Alternative therapies need to be brought into the formal system to conduct surveys and establish evidence levels. There should be a system to distinguish them from pseudo-medical practices."

Meanwhile, Kim, who revealed his battle with terminal lung cancer in August last year, began taking fenbendazole in September of the same year. He shared on his social media that his condition was improving and posted in mid-April this year, "It has been six months since I started taking chemotherapy drugs and fenbendazole. I am definitely getting better, and miracles happen," receiving much support.

However, about a year after starting fenbendazole, in September this year, he admitted failure, saying, "The dewormer could not overcome the cancer cells," and added, "I absolutely do not recommend it and would tell my family not to take it."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.