Koreans debate right amount of water to drink

Physician and YouTuber Jung Hee-won, left, speaks during a session on drinking water with kidney specialist Kim Se-joong next to him. Captured from Jung's YouTube channel

For many health-conscious Koreans, last week was awash with debate over the right amount of water to drink.

The controversy began on Aug. 6, when a biochemist claimed on the popular TV variety show, "You Quiz on the Block," that drinking 2 liters of water a day, a long-standing health tip in Korea, could actually be harmful.

“If you consistently drink 2 liters of water a day, your health will deteriorate," Lee Kye-ho, analytical food chemist and honorary professor of chemistry at Chungnam National University, said during the show.

"Some people believe consuming large quantities of water is good, even drinking up to 4 liters daily. Also, people eat excessive amounts of vegetables and fruit, believing they are always beneficial, or consume too much low-salt foods. These habits can lead to hyponatremia, which can cause sudden cardiac arrest and even death.”

Lee is a known figure among health-conscious audiences and the founder of “In the Beginning Food,” a group promoting healthy eating. He gives health lectures and sells organic ingredients through his website.

Following the show’s broadcast, the video clip went viral on YouTube, attracting more than 1 million views and over 1,000 comments. Some viewers supported Lee’s claim, sharing personal or family experiences, while others expressed doubt. The episode quickly ignited further debate across online platforms.

On Monday, Jung Hee-won, a physician and Korea’s leading advocate of “slow aging,” released a YouTube video specifically countering some of Lee’s statements.

A former geriatric doctor at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Jung now promotes slow aging and health through his YouTube channel for more than 500,000 subscribers and as a health official for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, where he now advises on public health policies and promotes healthy lifestyles for city residents.

“We made this video to correct exaggerated or medically unsubstantiated claims,” Jung said in the beginning of the video. He invited kidney specialist Kim Se-joong from Seoul National University’s College of Medicine to add expertise.

“I’ve heard many concerns from fellow doctors who say his dramatic claims could have a big impact on patients and make it harder for physicians to do their jobs,” Jung added.

For the rebuttal, the kidney specialist explained that drinking more than 2 liters of water a day is perfectly fine for people with healthy kidneys. He also dismissed the notion that excessive water intake or high vegetable consumption could cause sudden death, saying such fears are unfounded.

The heated debate underscores Koreans’ intense interest in health trends. Despite high meat consumption, the abundance of restaurants and coffee shops and the pressures of a highly competitive society, public enthusiasm for wellness has grown.

Many are willing to consume substances considered unpalatable if they are believed to have health benefits. In the past, more people drank bitter herbal extracts or goat broth to boost immunity, and dietary supplements remain among the most popular gifts for special occasions.