We present to you the 6 K-pop stars who died young.
South Korea’s entertainment business has lost many young performers over the years, underlining the mental health burden on its attractive stars known as ‘idols’.
Moon Bin, another K-pop singer, was recently discovered dead at his home at the age of 25.
The country is known for its fiercely competitive entertainment business, and many young talents have faced vicious internet harassment.
6 K-pop stars who died young
1. Moon Bin
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The singer, a member of the famed boy band Astro, was apparently found unresponsive on Wednesday evening in Seoul, South Korea, by his manager.
Fantagio, Moon Bin’s music company, confirmed his death in a statement.
While the reason for the death of Astro’s Moon Bin is unknown, reports indicate he committed suicide.
The singer’s death is the latest in a string of tragedies involving notable young celebrities in South Korea.
2. Song Yoo-jung
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Song Yoo-Jung’s death on January 23, 2021, stunned and heartbroken her fans. Sublime Artist, her agency, did not disclose the cause of death. Jung was only 26 years old.
She appeared in Golden Rainbow, School 2017, Make Your Wish, iKon’s Goodbye Road MV, Standing Egg’s Friend to Lover, and NIve’s How Do I.
In 2019, the song was featured in a popular web series called Dear My Name, as well as advertising for popular businesses such as Estée Lauder and Baskin-Robbins.
3. Choi Jin-ri AKA Sulli
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Sulli, a former member of f(x), departed the female group in 2015 to pursue her acting career.
The Instagram sensation, who had over five million followers, committed suicide in 2019 after complaining about the abuse she had after joining a feminist movement that emphasized being “braless.”
The C-Word podcast series by Luminary has an episode titled ‘Sulli’ which extensively discusses the controversies that surrounded her life and choices and the high rate of suicides that mar the K-pop world.
4. Goo Hara
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Goo Hara, 28, was found dead in her home just six weeks after Sulli’s suicide. She posted the word ‘Goodbye’ on her Instagram.
Goo had previously stated, “Public entertainers like myself don’t have it easy — our private lives are more scrutinized than anyone else, and we suffer the kind of pain we cannot even discuss with our family and friends.”
Goo had previously survived a suicide attempt after it was revealed that her lover had threatened to publish their sex tape.
5. Cha In-ha
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Within a few days following Goo Hara’s suicide, actor Cha In-ha was discovered dead in his Seoul residence.
Cha, real name Lee Jae-ho, made his cinematic debut in 2017 and was a member of the five-member boy band Surprise U.
The cause of his death was never revealed, and there were no allegations of his being exposed to online bullying on the same magnitude as other celebrities.
Cha has appeared in the films Temperature of Love, The Banker, and Clean with Passion for Now.
6. Jonghyun
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Kim Jong-hyun, the lead vocalist of the Korean boy band SHINee for nine years, committed suicide in 2017 at the age of 27.
“I am broken from within,” Jonghyun said in a note that was made public a day after his death. The sadness that had steadily crept up on me has now completely consumed me.”
According to multiple sources, the actor appeared to be “happy” in public appearances just days before his death, which contributed to the shock of his demise.
He was one of the most promising stars in South Korea’s entertainment industry.
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