Actor Kang Dong-won has revealed that he has completely quit smoking, sparking renewed interest among fans in his famously age-defying appearance.
A recent video posted to the popular YouTube channel Study King: Real Genius Hong Jin-kyung featured Kang Dong-won as he returns to the screen with his latest film, Wild Thing. The episode adopted a playful idol-group audition concept. When fellow guest and singer Lee Ji-hye asked him directly, "Do you smoke?" Kang Dong-won replied simply, "I quit smoking." Hearing this, host Hong Jin-kyung drew laughs from the set by saying, "Hold on a second," and pretending to sniff his hands to check for any lingering tobacco odors.
This is not the first time Kang Dong-won has pointed to a smoke-free lifestyle as his primary anti-aging secret. Back in 2015, he openly credited his youthful aesthetic to his decision to drop the habit. "When I look at my friends around me, I do look noticeably younger," he noted at the time. "I think I've been able to maintain my appearance thanks to quitting smoking recently."
Originally discovered through street casting before launching a successful modeling career, Kang Dong-won made his official acting debut in the 2003 television drama She Is Dignified. He quickly shot to stardom through hit movies like Temptation of Wolves and Don't Believe Her, eventually cementing his status as a premier box-office draw with blockbusters such as Jeon Woo-chi and The Priests.
The Timeline of Physical Recovery After Quitting Smoking
While countless smokers recognize the clinical necessity of kicking the habit, a vast majority fail in their attempts each year. Tobacco causes undeniable harm to systemic health, yet many individuals do not fully grasp the gravity of the damage until they receive a serious medical diagnosis. However, those who successfully quit experience an immediate sequence of profound physical transformations, with many noting that they could never imagine returning to cigarettes.
The physiological benefits begin almost immediately after the final puff:
After 20 minutes: Your heart rate stabilizes back to a normal rhythm. Blood pressure, which spikes during smoking, begins to fall, immediately relieving arterial strain and improving peripheral circulation.
After 8 hours: Toxic carbon monoxide levels in the bloodstream drop significantly, allowing oxygen saturation levels to return to normal.
After 24 hours: The baseline risk of suffering an acute heart attack begins to decrease. The volatile chemicals in cigarette smoke actively deplete high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol, accelerating plaque buildup and cardiovascular disease.
After 48 hours: The senses of smell and taste—which are chronically dulled by toxic substances and tar residues—begin to noticeably recover.
Preserving Skin Elasticity and Cellular Health
The longer an individual abstains from tobacco, the more the body purges accumulated nicotine. Microscopic cilia within the lungs regrow to clear out cellular debris, and the long-term risk of death from cardiac arrest is eventually cut in half. Blood vessels previously constricted by nicotine widen again, drastically lowering the risk of dangerous blood clots.
Beyond protecting internal organs, quitting smoking acts as a powerful cosmetic intervention, directly supporting a youthful complexion like Kang Dong-won's. Specifically, abandoning cigarettes helps preserve firm, clear skin, which is universally regarded as a hallmark of youth.
Smoking severely compromises microcirculation, depriving skin tissues of essential oxygen and leaving the complexion looking dull and sallow. Tobacco smoke actively degrades collagen and elastin fibers, which are responsible for structural elasticity. Furthermore, when airborne toxins settle on the face and clog pores, they trigger cosmetic blemishes like blackheads and acne. Finally, the nicotine present in cigarette smoke damages the skin's protective epidermal barrier, leading to premature thinning and accelerated wrinkle formation.
