(Following Interview①) Professor Jeong Hee-won is referred to as the 'Slow Aging Master' by the MZ generation. What does the term 'slow aging' mean in simpler terms? Professor Jeong said, "Ultimately, it means aging slowly."
“Time passes equally for everyone, but the speed at which my body breaks down and loses function is something I can decide. Delaying aging. It means I can decide the speed at which I break myself, and it also means minimizing the period of illness in old age.”
Living a long and healthy life is something everyone desires. Professor Jeong stated, “Eating well and living well. Once you have good experiences, you can't help but realize that a slow aging lifestyle is beneficial,” and emphasized, “My strategy, to make slow aging the default value, will inevitably succeed someday.”
There are also economic benefits to slow aging. Professor Jeong said, “If you pack a slow aging lunch and go to work, you can save 10,000 won on lunch. Although prices have risen recently, if you make a lunch box, it can cost about 3,000 to 4,000 won per meal. This way, you can lose belly fat, improve your brain function, and sleep better. It truly is a cure-all. Instead of spending money on triangle kimbap and soju, slow aging soy sauce egg rice is better. Wouldn't it be nice to have good experiences?”
He also mentioned that nursing costs are something to consider significantly in the future. Professor Jeong stated, “The most expensive thing in the future will be care costs.” He continued, “Recently, a patient's guardian said, 'My father needs to go to a nursing hospital, and a single room costs 10 million won a month.' If it's a critically ill patient, a caregiver can earn around 7 million won a month. The gap between healthy life expectancy and actual life expectancy is about 10 years. This means that at least 5 years of care will be needed. Our generation may not be able to afford care costs for the next generation. The last 10 years of old age can be difficult or bright depending on how we manage now,” he warned.
Instead of taking care of patients he meets in the clinic, Professor Jeong plans to provide accurate health information to the entire nation through radio. The issue he wants to raise awareness about the most is 'sugar.'
“Due to the influence of some people through the media, the food that the public consumes has become excessively sweet. I don't like the term 'good influence,' but... I still want people to take the 'red pill.' I want them to realize that the right way of life is not to drink cola and eat sugar-laden foods, leading to dopamine addiction. I want them to understand that this is not living life to the fullest.”
Why is he so cautious about sugar? Professor Jeong explained, “Liquid sugars rapidly raise blood sugar levels and then drop them sharply, reducing basal metabolic rate. Beverages and sweetened coffee are not good. If possible, they should be replaced with water, unsweetened coffee, tea, milk, or soy milk.”
Is sugar intake bad for everyone? When asked if there are cases where sugar intake is recommended, he caught attention by saying, “There are cases where I do recommend it.” He continued, “This is for patients with cachexia (a state of malnutrition due to chronic illness). In such cases, doctors advise that they 'should eat something.' Unless they are individuals who absolutely need it for health reasons, they should not consume it,” he emphasized.
When discussing health issues, people usually think of 'nutritional supplements' first. However, what Professor Jeong emphasizes is not supplements but rather the combination of proper eating and exercise.
“Eating and exercising are directly linked to brain health. Both are important. Changes in exercise and dietary habits are essential. A body that does not exercise tends to store the carbohydrates consumed as fat. Just as a tree needs healthy roots to have a healthy upper part, all lifestyle habits such as sleep, exercise, and eating habits must create a virtuous cycle. I hope that living a 'slow aging' life itself becomes the default value.”
The 'slow aging' concept created by Professor Jeong is showing visible results quickly. Just by looking at social media, there is an increasing number of young people who are consistently engaging in exercise like running and seeking healthy foods instead of trends that pursue dopamine like malatang and tanghulu.
Professor Jeong noted, “Recently, there are good changes among the younger generation, especially in running. Interest in healthy food has also increased. If this trend continues, I believe that chronic diseases closely related to lifestyle, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, will improve rapidly within 1 to 2 years among the young people practicing slow aging.”
Finally, when asked what to keep in mind to practice slow aging, Professor Jeong replied:
“We need to change our mindset, shift our perspective on the future, and prioritize self-care. Everyone should recognize the importance of self-care and be prepared to enter the race of life. People want quick tips, but many are reluctant to invest time in self-management. We need to change our basic mindset and take care of ourselves. Simply working harder can lead to accelerated aging, decreased efficacy, depression, and a decline in quality of life. The overactivation of the brain's amygdala, decreased literacy, neglect of self-care, and outsourcing brain activity have raised the level of anger in Korean society. By practicing self-care, people will become more compassionate.”
