In the March 2, 2026 (KST) episode of TV Chosun’s Lovers of Joseon, CAN member Bae Giseong (Bae Kisung) revealed he has suffered hearing loss in one ear, attributed to extreme efforts to conceive a child. The episode followed Bae and his wife to the hospital, where doctors confirmed he had acute sensorineural hearing loss.
Bae explained, “Something strange started happening to my body,” adding that he has been receiving treatment for about three weeks with slow improvement and plans for further tests. He shared, “After our trip to Gyeongju, I approached pregnancy with strong purpose and responsibility, but suddenly, I couldn’t hear out of my right ear. The diagnosis was sudden hearing loss.”
Doctors concluded the condition stemmed from “overexertion” while trying to conceive. One physician noted, “He forced himself beyond his limits. His vitality was already low, yet he pushed himself as if his energy worth 1 was spent 10. In traditional medicine, the ears are directly linked to a man’s vitality.”
Bae candidly admitted, “I was told we had to try as often as possible, so… we had sex every night for eight consecutive days. I even thought, ‘If I keep going at this rate, I might actually drop dead.’ But the social pressure to conceive together made me feel a strong obligation.”
His wife also opened up about their decade-long struggle, saying, “A child could become motivation, but I also wondered how much harder things might become.”
The doctor advised the couple not to treat conception as a task, emphasising the importance of relaxation and stability. For men of Bae’s age, a more realistic approach would be a frequency of once a week, rather than daily attempts.
