The world stood still in shock when news of South Korean celebrity Sulli’s suicide made the headlines. But she is only one of the many super stars who committed suicide in the country.
Sulli was found dead by her manager in her house in Seongnam, south of Seoul. The 25-year-old former f(x) member’s death was classified as suicide by the authorities.
In South Korea, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death. The suicide rate rate in South Korea is at the highest level, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the rate reaching number 10.
South Korea also lead the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with the highest rate of people who commit suicide.
There are many other South Korean celebrities who have taken their own lives in the past, with stress or depression being a leading cause.
- Choi Jin Sil (December 24, 1968 to October 2, 2008)
Choi Jin Sil nicknamed as ‘The Nation’s Actress’ back in her heyday won the Best Actress award at the 33rd Grand Bell. After the death of her former manager Ahn Jaehwan in a murder case back in 1994, Jin Sil’s life began to change.
She was named as one of the suspects in the murder and became depressed following the accusation. She put an end to her life by hanging on October 2, 2008.
2. Park Yongha (12th August 1977 to 30th June 2010)
Park Yongha was well known among South Korean fans for his handsome looks, acting skills and singing from the young age of 17.
He is a successful solo singer other than his acting role in TV drama ‘Winter Sonata’ where he co-starred with Bae Youngjoon and Choi Jiwoo.
Park Yongha was found dead hanging from a camcorder charger. His mother found his body at his home at Nonhyeongdong, Seoul. It is said that he was struggling with the stress of juggling with his entertainment company, his career and coping with his father suffering from cancer.
3. Jang Jayeon (January 25, 1980 to March 7, 2009)
Jang Jayeon was known for her character Sunny in hit TV drama ‘Boys Over Flowers’. The actress was found dead by hanging in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
She was reportedly abused sexually and physically in the entertainment industry. In a 7-page unconfirmed suicide note, she shared that she was beaten by her agency directors with whom she was forced to have sex. Reports also say she had sex with people media executives and CEOs.
Her life tragedy was adapted into a 2013 film called ‘Norigae’
4. Lee Eunjoo (December 22, 1980 to February 22, 2005)
Movies like ‘Taegukgi: The Brotherwood Of War’ (2004) and ‘The Scarlet Letter’ (2000) are some of the hit movies in which Lee Eunjoo starred in.
‘The Scarlet Letter’ left Lee Eunjoo in trauma after that because she had to film nude scenes for the movie. Following that, she went through insomnia, mental illness and depression.
A few days after graduating from Dankook University, she committed suicided by slitting her wrists and hanging herself at her apartment in Bundang, Seongnam.
5. Daul Kim (May 31, 1989 to November 19, 2009)
In the fashion industry back in the day, Daul Kim was one of the biggest names. In 2007, she made it to Vogue magazine’s cover. Designers like Karl Lagerfeld, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel and Alexander McQueen were some of the labels that worked with Daul Kim.
The model was actually very depressed and lonely despite her glamorous life in the fashion world. At the age of 20, she took her own life at her apartment in Paris.
6. SHINee’s Jonghyun (April 8, 1990 to December 18, 2017)
A member of the award-winning boy band SHINee, Jonghyun debuted as the lead vocalist in 2008.
His struggle with depression was known publicly during his time in the entertainment industry. He killed himself at a rented apartment in Chengdamdong in December 2017.
In his suicide note, the singer wrote, “The depression that was slowly devouring me at last consumed me.”
7. Jeon Taesoo (March 2, 1984 to January 2, 2018)
Jeon Taesoo is the younger brother of ‘Secret Garden’ actress Ha Ji Won. He acted in a period drama called ‘Sungkyunhwan Scandal’. On January 21, 2018, he committed suicide at the age of 33. He was suffering from depression.
It has been reported that lawmakers of South Korea are proposing an act called the ‘Sulli Act’. It is proposed by nine members of the National Assembly and it will tackle the issue of cyber bullying. /TISG