Dr. Oh Eun-young "Life Changed 180 Degrees After Cancer Surgery... A Miracle" [Manbo Jeongdam]

Interview with Psychiatrist Oh Eun-young

Life Changed 180 Degrees After Cancer Surgery in 2008
‘Mind Study’ to Understand Myself and Others
“Individuals Must Be Happy for a Healthy Society,
Understanding My Mind and Myself Makes Me Stronger”

Dr. Eun-Young Oh (58) has her name 'Oh Eun-Young' engraved in a traditional Korean font on her business card. Even celebrities are eager to get this card. The card is considered a talisman because her name alone inspires confidence. As a psychiatrist with 33 years of experience, she has appeared on various broadcasts such as SBS's "Our Child Has Changed" starting in 2005, "Geumjjok Counseling Center," "My Precious Child," and "Oh Eun-Young Report - Marriage Hell," earning her the title of the "National Family Doctor." Starting from the 1st of next month, she will hold the talk concert 2024 "Oh Eun-Young's Unparalleled 'Everyday Proud Proud Proud'" and meet with the audience.

Dr. Oh Eun-young, director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic and parenting mentor, is walking in a rooftop garden of a building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, while being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

At a YouTube studio located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Dr. Oh met with Asia Economy and, despite her tightly packed schedule measured in minutes, suggested taking a walk on the rooftop lawn. No matter how busy she is, Dr. Oh always finds time to walk. The bright and cheerful energy she radiates and the warm comfort she offers come from 'nature.' She said she feels happy when walking in the sunlight.

- Do you walk a lot in your daily life?

▲ I like walking while feeling nature. Sometimes I visit traditional markets to observe people. People's clothing and expressions change with the seasons.

- Does walking help mental health?

▲ It’s very beneficial. Humans live on Earth under gravity. Feeling how the body moves and moving all parts appropriately is fundamental to life. When the body moves, the brain releases the neurotransmitter 'serotonin,' which makes us feel happy. Representative activities are 'walking' and 'exposure to sunlight.' Walking while seeing sunlight is a 'two birds with one stone' effect.

- Do you have routines you keep for health?

▲ Besides walking, my daily routines for health include good sleep and stretching. I also enjoy reading books, writing, and watching movies. By interacting with nature, I feel that I am part of the universe. When I need calmness, I briefly hold my breath. When I breathe again, I feel 'alive.' I am grateful for oxygen. I resolve to 'live better' and 'endure hardships.' I feel how precious and valuable my life is.

Dr. Oh Eun-young, director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic and parenting mentor, is walking in a rooftop garden of a building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, while being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

- You were diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, right?

▲ In 2008, I had my first health checkup. A junior doctor said during an abdominal ultrasound, "There is suspicion of a malignant tumor in the gallbladder." Upon confirmation, it seemed to be a malignant tumor. Ultrasound has a high diagnostic accuracy, so I was worried. My husband, who was waiting, trembled and cried when he heard the results. That scene is still vivid as if it were yesterday.

- Weren't you afraid? How did you overcome it?

▲ Strangely, I became calm. Before surgery, I checked important documents and gave my husband the passwords. My senior and mentor, President Dong-Seop Yoon of Yonsei University, was my attending physician. When I was hospitalized, he came with Professor Kang-Young Lee of Severance Hospital, who handles colon treatments. They said, "A malignant tumor was found in the colon as well." When I asked how long I could live, they said, "If short, three months; if long, six months."

At that time, my child was in the fifth grade of elementary school. I cried entering the operating room. Parents should give love to their children, discuss difficulties, and be by their side, but what if I couldn't? I called out my child's name loudly and shouted, "Mom loves you." I felt endlessly sorry, thinking, "I should have petted you one more time," "I should have said I love you more." When I opened my eyes in the recovery room, President Yoon was there. The gallbladder tumor was not malignant but a polyp, so it was removed, and the malignant tumor was confirmed in the colon. The surgery went well. I resolved to treat patients and caregivers better and embrace them warmly. Out of gratitude to President Yoon, I serve as a Yonsei University ambassador and a member of the development committee.

- Did your life change?

▲ My life changed. I started seeing patients one week after discharge, but my feelings were indescribably complex. The world was the same. I was upset, thinking, "I lived well, so why did this happen to me?" But a miracle happened. Patients who didn't know I had surgery brought me honey they farmed, bokbunja (Korean black raspberry), pear juice, and seaweed. They also brought perilla leaves and jangjorim (soy-braised beef). The guardian of Min-Jae, who was being treated for autism, hugged me and comforted me, saying, "The director must stay healthy." It was touching. I realized again that humans are beings who help, comfort, and support each other. Just holding hands and being beside someone in hard times helps.Even if life is torn like a ragged cloth, let's embrace each other with precious people and move forward.

I interviewed Dr. Oh Eun-young, director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic and parenting mentor, at an entertainment company located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

- You have been diagnosing viewers' minds through media for nearly 20 years.

▲ We must not forget how precious life is. It is important to make the threshold to psychiatry comfortable for happiness. A doctor cannot think of this as just a means of livelihood. I have never thought of the work as bothersome or something I don't want to do. I feel proud when patients improve. Some call it a 'solution,' but it is precisely 'understanding humans.' Communication problems among close relationships like couples and parents and children are also part of 'culture.' Changing culture involves resistance. I was a discipline teacher during "Our Child Has Changed." There was an old Korean culture called the 'love stick.' When parents hit children, they get angry, and children get scared. I told them not to think hitting is education, and it took over 11 years to change that perception. Parents are important people who influence their children's lives.

- Many people struggle with emotional regulation issues like 'burnout.'

▲ Humans are beings who develop throughout life. We are not born complete. The process of acquiring functions is 'development.' Many areas develop until adulthood. As the body grows, muscles develop, and cognitive areas like judgment, understanding, and common sense develop. Emotional development is especially important. The mind does not reveal itself automatically; emotions follow situations. Behavior is visible, but emotions are not. People today express thoughts well, but 'emotion' behind them is important. Some don't even know their own feelings. Studying the mind helps understand behavior. For example, realizing 'I am not a violent person; I act that way because I am scared.'

- What is studying the mind?

▲ It is knowing myself and humans. It is good to express the mind in words. When you understand your own and others' minds, your understanding broadens, you become more tolerant, and social relationships improve. For example, if my mind feels hurt but I don't know it, I might get angry for no reason, binge eat, drink alcohol, buy unnecessary things, or get irritated. Understanding humans reduces conflicts and helps overcome wounds.

Dr. Oh Eun-young, director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic and parenting mentor, is walking in a rooftop garden of a building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, while being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

- Generation conflicts are pointed out as social issues.

▲ When the elderly parent generation was born, we were a developing country. They lived hard after the war's ruins, and the country became wealthy enough to rank 14th in GDP. In a small land with a scarce population and limited resources, people studied hard and achieved this. The 20s to 40s generation started differently. If this is not acknowledged, the gap between generations widens. The younger generation values themselves and tries hard to live well. They are not selfish. The older generation could get a job just by graduating college, but the younger generation is different. If they fail, they don't get a second chance, so they pursue perfectionism and have high aspirations. They want to be praised for playing well even when resting. Seeing them live with the pressure of not losing is pitiful. One must feel 'there are happy moments every day' to increase life satisfaction. When individuals are happy, society is happy.

- The younger generation often avoids dating and marriage for various reasons.

▲ They say they have no leisure and lack confidence in becoming good parents. They worry, "What if my child is not happy like me?" They were taught to go to good schools and get good jobs when young. They grew up being scolded for grades rather than having warm conversations with parents. When entering the workplace, people say, "Now you have to play." It means they want to take care of themselves with leisure, but adults dismiss this as ignorance of the world. Our country is facing a population cliff. The non-marital birth rate in Korea is only 2%. This means children are born only through marriage. In Europe, it is over 30%, and in the UK and the US, it is in the high 20s to 30%. Society must first understand that these factors are organically connected.

- What advice do you have for those struggling with low self-esteem?

▲ Using social networking services (SNS) can lower confidence and self-esteem and cause withdrawal. Paradoxically, while thinking I am precious, I constantly compare myself to others' appearances and lose myself. Knowing my mind and myself is important. A tree with strong roots does not shake even when stones are thrown or the wind blows. If you value yourself, you become resilient to any wounds or stress.

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