The brother of K-pop star BoA who worked as a music video director passed away on Sept. 5 due to peritoneal cancer. He was 39.
BoA announced on her Instagram account that her brother, Kwon Soon-wook, died at 12:17 a.m. on Sept. 5. The wake is at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in Seoul.
Peritoneal cancer, according to the Cedars-Sinai website, is a “cancer that has spread to the lining surfaces of the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity from ovarian cancer, primary colorectal cancer, appendiceal cancer, or mesothelioma and pseudomyxoma peritonei—known as peritoneal carcinomatosis—are cancers that are frequently referred to as peritoneal cancers.”
It added, “Whether peritoneal cancer starts in the peritoneum or spreads from somewhere else (colon, appendix, ovary), it is considered advanced (stage IV) once it’s in the peritoneum and might be referred to as peritoneal carcinomatosis.”
Kwon Soon-wook directed many K-pop music videos including BoA’s “Woman,” Red Velvet’s “Be Natural,” Mamamoo’s “Piano Man,” EXO-CBX’s “The One” and Girl’s Day's “Hug Me Once.”
He died four months after announcing on Instagram in May that he had stage 4 peritoneal cancer.
Kwon Soon-wook wrote that since last year, he was not feeling well so he took a break.
“But now I know that my physical condition is really bad, and I don't have much time left medically.There's cancer in the peritoneum and it's metastatic stage 4 cancer. Around the end of December last year, when I was suffering from peritonitis, a stent in my body broke through my intestines, resulting in an intestinal perforation and I had emergency surgery with unspeakable pain,” he said.
Peritonitis, according to Mayo Clinic, is the “inflammation of the peritoneum — a silk-like membrane that lines your inner abdominal wall and covers the organs within your abdomen — that is usually due to a bacterial or fungal infection.”
"Doctors said I have about two to three months to live. I can't believe this happened to me. I feel like it's a dream, but every morning I wake up to this harsh reality," added Kwon Soon-wook, the Korea Times reported.
He revealed that he now only weighed 36 kilos because he could not eat due to intestinal obstruction.
Kwon Soon-wook said his mother told him he would get better but because of his medical diagnosis, he said he had lost confidence.
Despite his prognosis, he said, every treatment that can be done was still being tried and he was trying hard not to lose hope.
“It's the first time I cried because I couldn't eat a spoonful of rice,” he said.
The funeral will be held on Sept. 7 with only relatives in attendance due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions.
“We ask for your warm condolences and wish him to rest in peace,” posted BoA.