F.T. Island member Lee Hong Ki has confessed to suffering from a rare disease.

On December 18, Lee Hong Ki appeared on the YouTube channel 'Shining Light on Pyogenic Granuloma' operated by Novartis Korea.

In the video, he disclosed, "I have had a disease called pyogenic granuloma since middle school."

He went on to introduce pyogenic granuloma, stating, "It takes an average of 7 to 10 years just to get diagnosed, and it often causes shame, pain, and depression due to frequent surgeries. It is a condition that significantly interferes with daily life and social activities."

He revealed, "Because of this condition, there were instances when I had to leave in the middle of a broadcast or cancel schedules such as concerts. I couldn't move, couldn't sing, and it wasn't easy to take flights."

He continued, "You can't really do anything. It's embarrassing to tell others about this condition." He further shared, "One time, the bump burst without my knowledge, and pus and blood came out continuously. It was so serious that I carried spare underwear with me. The pain and discomfort at the moment of occurrence were beyond imagination."

Lee Hong Ki expressed the difficulty of talking about the disease, saying, "It was very difficult to bring up the fact that I have this illness when I had to leave filming or couldn't take a flight or had to cancel a performance. I didn't know how to explain, and it was embarrassing. People thought it was an excuse, even F.T. Island members thought I was giving excuses. After talking about the seriousness and making it public, I no longer felt ashamed."

In reaching out to those who share similar conditions, he expressed, "I understand that disclosing this illness to those around you can be challenging. However, once you provide a clear explanation, it eases your mind. I now comfortably undergo treatment and therapy. Remember, it's not your fault. There's no need to blame yourself or feel embarrassed."

The chronic inflammatory skin disease, pyogenic granuloma, that Lee Hong Ki shared is identified by deep-seated red inflammatory nodules, which repeatedly result in scars. These manifestations primarily occur in areas where the skin folds, such as the buttocks, groin, and armpits. Although this condition affects 1-4% of the population in Western countries, it is rare in Korea, with only around 10,000 reported cases.

Due to a lack of awareness about the disease and issues like patient shame, it often goes unnoticed and is frequently misdiagnosed as acne or folliculitis.

Born in 1990, Lee Hong Ki commenced his entertainment journey as a child actor and has been an active member of F.T. Island and a solo artist since 2007.