Actress Park So-dam on facing deficiency and finding healing after surgery: "I think I was quite ill"

Actress Park So-dam has candidly shared the physical and mental anguish she endured following major surgery, detailing how she overcame these challenges. While she may have appeared composed on the surface, she revealed the intense internal struggle of learning to care for herself, showing a newfound resilience.

Tears Amidst a Breathless Daily Life: The Solace Found at Seokchon Lake

Following her surgery, the most difficult challenge for Park was her drastically depleted physical strength. She hit physical limits so severe that even the short distance from her home to a nearby filming location left her breathless and struggling to walk. Recalling the pain of that time, Park shared an anecdote about walking around Seokchon Lake with a sun visor pulled low to hide her tears. Hiding her face behind the visor to avoid being seen by others, the time she spent pouring out her emotions while walking around the lake meant much more to her than mere exercise. Park recalled Seokchon Lake as a healing space where she could fully let her emotions flow.

"What else can I do besides acting?"... The Answer Found in Iceland

Paradoxically, the health crisis became an opportunity for Park to look beyond her identity as an "actress." After the surgery, she was faced with the fundamental question: "What else can I do besides acting?" To find an answer, she chose to embark on her first-ever solo trip abroad. The 34-day journey, which involved driving all the way to Iceland, provided her with a sense of liberation. Facing the aurora and taking spontaneous naps amidst beautiful landscapes were part of a process to rediscover herself—something she had lost amidst her busy schedule.

Her attitude toward her past pain has also changed noticeably, moving from denial to acceptance. Park revealed that she often says, "I wish I hadn't been in pain, but I think I went through it well." This confession is possible because she learned how to care for herself while enduring those painful times. She mentioned that just one or two years ago, even talking about her pain was so overwhelming that she would burst into tears; only after learning how to nurture herself was she finally able to share her story with the world.

The Growth of an Actress Who Learned to Care for Herself

Park cited "healing" as the reason for her recent appearance. She resonated with the idea that to speak of pain and move toward healing, one must first confront that pain. While she may have previously pushed self-care to the side due to the professional weight of being an actress and her hectic lifestyle, she is now prioritizing herself more than anyone else, building inner strength. Park's transformation—viewing life through a deeper lens after passing through a period of suffering—suggests that she has grown a step further, not just as an actress, but as a human being.