FTISLAND's Lee Hong-ki confesses that he has been fighting a rare disease for 20 years... ”8 surgeries, scars that make it hard to go to public baths”

FTISLAND's Lee Hong-ki revealed the pain he has endured for nearly 20 years due to a rare disease, touching the hearts of viewers.

On the 15th, SBS variety show My Little Old Boy aired footage of Hong-ki visiting the hospital for a checkup.

On that day, Hong-ki said, “I had been managing it well, but recently I felt something abnormal under my armpit again,” and added, “I came to the hospital to check if my buttocks were okay too.”

The disease Hong-ki is suffering from is pyoderma gangrenosum. It is a rare and difficult-to-treat disease where abscesses accompanied by pus repeatedly occur in sweat gland areas such as the buttocks and armpits.

The attending physician explained, “This condition tends to worsen during hot and humid periods like summer,” and added, “In severe cases, the pus can form tunnel-like structures under the skin, making it difficult to raise the arm due to pain.”

Hong-ki revealed, “I've been suffering from this condition since childhood,” and shared, “I've undergone surgery about eight times, and I couldn't even go to public bathhouses due to the scars.”

He continued, “During middle school, an abscess burst during class, leaving my uniform's back covered in blood and pus. I had to leave early, but at the time, I couldn't even go to the hospital.”

According to the doctor, Hong-ki had previously visited the hospital with an abscess the size of a palm on his right buttock, and at the time, the pus had accumulated severely, requiring an emergency surgery to insert a drainage tube.

Hong-ki described the pain as so severe that “sitting, lying on my stomach, or standing up was difficult,” emphasizing that “this condition is not a simple skin disease but a source of significant daily suffering that greatly impacts my life.”

Meanwhile, Lee Hong-ki continues his active schedule, with various festivals and university events planned for the upcoming summer season, and he has reportedly been paying even more attention to his health management.