What celebrity illustrator Kian84’s procrastination tells us about perfectionism

Kian84 / Captured from MBC

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Some people can only finish tasks when the deadline is dangerously close. Many have experienced the heavy feeling of wanting to begin but being unable to start. Pressure to “do it well” often leads to doing nothing at all. Webtoon artist and television personality Kian84, known for the hit series “Fashion King,” is a well-known example.

‘I only react when the house is on fire’

During the making of his webtoon, Kian84 struggled to meet deadlines. His delays were so frequent that fans jokingly called him the “king of tardiness.” Appearing on a variety show, he said he was the type who only acts “when the house is on fire.”

Viewers saw this pattern repeatedly on television: Kian84 would race to finish his drawings on the final day, often skipping meals as he worked through deadlines. The stress from living that way was considerable. “There was a time I thought, ‘I’m going to miss the deadline and get fired anyway … maybe I should just run away,’” he said with a laugh.

Why can’t he finish early? ‘I fix it until I’m satisfied’

Kian84’s delays were not caused by laziness or avoidance. His habit developed from searching for better jokes, better plotlines and better storytelling. His refusal to compromise — and his desire for perfection — led to his reputation as a chronic late finisher.

“I keep fixing it until I’m satisfied,” he said. “I used to think, ‘Isn’t it better to be a little late if it means being more fun?’ But looking back, I think that habit wasn’t good for me.”

When perfection becomes dysfunctional

People like Kian84, who delay tasks because they seek perfection, are often called “lazy perfectionists.” The more accurate psychological term is “dysfunctional perfectionism.”

Song Min-kyu, director of St. Mary Empathy Psychiatry Clinic, said the mindset dysfunctional perfectionism is not a clinical diagnosis but a term for certain behavioral patterns. He added, “If procrastination accompanies helplessness or depressed mood, it may appear lazy. But those who strive for perfection yet cannot meet their standards often have high anxiety.”

How can people overcome this habit of postponing tasks? Song said such individuals often think, “If I don’t do this perfectly, everything is ruined.” Breaking this all-or-nothing mindset is the key, he said. “They need to lower the standard to something like ‘I can do well enough even if it’s not perfect.’”

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.