Photographs through SM Leisure and Polaris Leisure
Amid an business identified for its catchy tunes and energetic dance routines, the Ok-Pop world is far harsher than what meets the common eye. Albeit its stereotypical picture depicting younger stars having enjoyable, at occasions even performing the so-called ‘bubblegum pop’, this downright ruthless business — along with demanding followers and conventional cultural beliefs —has taken a toll on its idols from their very first debut. Even the most important stars in South Korea have been progressively opening up in relation to the unrealistic expectations positioned upon them to attain the unachievable, together with BTS’ RM critics in the direction of the shortage of development within the business and IU’s openness about her deteriorating psychological and bodily well being upon turning into a musician.
These days, many idols choose to overtly talk about their psychological well being struggles and even take the little artistic freedom that they should open up in regards to the inherent underlining obstacles in Ok-Pop, nonetheless, many weren’t as fortunate. Unfairly handled by followers, media, and their corporations alike, Ok-Pop has earned itself the celebrity of turning into a burial floor for a few of its youngest rising stars. Whether or not they could derive from suicide, widespread automobile crashes, or sickness, Ok-Pop idols have develop into connected to their picture as celebrities for eternity, after being housed by this relentlessly morbid business. Whereas an inventory for much longer may have been made, listed below are a number of the greatest idols in Ok-Pop who’ve left this earth far too quickly.
Lee Jihan
Born in August 1998, Lee Jihan was an actor and rising Ok-Pop idol who tragically handed away in 2022, on the age of 24. Jihan was an actor below WIDMAY Leisure, and in 2017, the singer participated within the second season of Produce 101, a actuality collection created by his label. Regardless of being a rookie on this planet of Ok-Pop, the singer was already well-established on this planet of Korean dramas, identified for his position within the 2019 drama The Butterfly Dream.
The 24-year-old handed away in October 2022, as a sufferer of the deadly Seoul crowd crush that occurred on Halloween night time. Upon having some COVID-19 restrictions lifted, a big mass of individuals celebrating the ending of the sanctions and the favored celebration crammed the streets of Gangnam, which had been in any other case unprepared for such a big surge of individuals, leading to a stampede that ended the lives of over 150 individuals, together with Jihan.
Yohan
Popularized for being a rookie member of the Ok-Pop group TST, Yohan was first launched to the South Korean pop scene in 2013, below a wholly totally different group referred to as Nom. This band achieved huge success within the Philippines however remained comparatively inactive since a number of of the members transferred into a brand new boy group in 2017, thus forming TST.
On June 26, 2020, it was introduced the favored singer had handed away on the age of 28. The relations and KJ Music Leisure requested followers to keep away from speculating relating to his passing, because the official assertion didn’t cite a reason for loss of life per the household’s request. Many followers have, naturally, weighed in on what could have been Yohan’s reason for loss of life, together with loss of life by suicide and even on account of a COVID-19-related sickness. However, Yohan left the world unexpectedly and mysteriously, leaving associates, household, and followers mourning the lack of the singer.
Sulli
In recent times, there have been three deaths that utterly shook the Ok-Pop world as we all know it as we speak; one in all them being the loss of life of Sulli, an actress, and singer a part of the Ok-Pop group f(x). Lively since 2005 within the South Korean leisure enterprise, Sulli rapidly turned a recognizable face within the nation, for her stellar work as an actress adopted by her immense success as a musician. Though short-lived, Sulli’s musical profession on f(x) lasted six years earlier than she centered on her solo act and performing tasks.
Through the course of her profession, Sulli was the goal of immense criticism for courting Dynamic Duo’s rapper Choiza, who was 14 years her senior. Amidst being pregnant rumors, controversies following kissing her buddy on the lips, and admitting to not having fun with bras, Sulli’s battle with cyberbullying and its repercussions on her psychological well being started. On October 14, 2019, Sulli took her personal life. The information shook up your complete nation, on account of her immense reputation as one of many greatest stars in South Korea, falling by the hands of the tough reception by the media and its society.
Goo Hara
Some of the heartbreaking and impactful deaths in Ok-Pop in recent times was that of Goo Hara. She was a member of the woman group Kara, and through the years, she participated in a number of actuality exhibits together with the favored KBS actuality collection Invincible Youth and Sturdy Coronary heart. Hara debuted as a solo act in 2015, pursuing a solo profession as a singer and TV host, turning into a widely known presence on this planet of Ok-Pop and tv alike.
In 2019, on the age of 28, Hara was discovered useless in her dwelling in Seoul. Her passing was dominated out as a suicide. Whereas there isn’t a affirmation in relation to the reasoning behind her loss of life, a number of causes got here up as hypothesis. A month previous to Hara’s passing, her shut buddy Sulli was discovered lifeless in her dwelling, as Hara admitted to not have been dealing with Sulli’s passing nicely. Along with dropping Sulli, Hara was additionally coping with a lawsuit with Choi Jong-Bum, her ex-boyfriend after being assaulted and threatened by the hairdresser.
Hara filed a lawsuit after her ex-boyfriend threatened to launch a intercourse tape that he filmed non-consensually, as an try to hurt her profession. The existence of a intercourse tape led to Hara being severely harassed by the media, resulting in her first try at her life a number of months previous to her loss of life. Afterward, Hara would cross away from suicide.
Ahn So-jin
At occasions, the Ok-Pop world is so relentless that even its rising stars succumb to the shortage of psychological well being construction, deemed as taboo within the nation. Ahn So-Jin was nonetheless a trainee when she handed away, beforehand partaking within the 2014 DSP Media survival program referred to as Kara Undertaking. So-Jin turned the chief of the Child Karaproject, on account of her stage charisma, dancing stamina, and powerful vocals. Her vibrant persona was additionally oftentimes praised by the viewers.
Sadly, that brightness and positivity wouldn’t all the time translate into actual life. On February 2015, So-Jin died by suicide, discovered unconscious close to her condo backyard on the age of twenty-two. Whereas the rising singer didn’t cross away from her try at taking her life, she would afterward, die whereas being transported to the hospital on account of her self-inflicted accidents. Though her household didn’t ask for an post-mortem, her loss of life was dominated as a suicide, derived from her struggles with despair.
Kim Jonghyun
In 2017, the trajectory within the business modified upon Kim Jonghyun’s passing. His loss of life would deliver a row of underlining points within the Ok-Pop scene, adopted by Sulli and Goo Hara’s personal passing. Jonghyun was the principle vocalist of the groundbreaking Ok-Pop boy group, SHINee. Lively since 2005, SHINee rose to immense fame for proportioning the Hallyu wave that opened the Ok-Pop doorways to the remainder of the world. Admired for his arduous work and expertise, Jonghyun was additionally identified for pursuing a solo profession in 2015, whereas comprising his work as a member of The Ballad and SHINee alike.
On Dec.18, 2017, South Korea was hit with the heartbreaking information that Jonghyun had handed away from carbon monoxide poisoning, which was afterward dominated as a loss of life by suicide. The singer handed away on the age of 27, with practically clear intentions that he geared toward taking his personal life following numerous messages he had despatched to his sister, in addition to a suicide letter he despatched his buddy and singer Nine9, three days previous to his Dec.9 live performance. Regardless of the alarming proof of his deteriorating psychological well being, neither the corporate nor his associates managed to stop his loss of life, even when they tried.
Girls’ Code Rise and EunB
Initially consisting of 5 members, Girls’ Code is a woman group shaped by Polaris Leisure in 2013. Albeit the group didn’t get an opportunity to attain a excessive standing within the business earlier than the catastrophe, Girls’ Code was rapidly a sufferer of headlines upon the deaths of members EunB and Rise a 12 months after their debut. Rise or Kwon Ri-Se was a singer within the group, beforehand identified for taking part in Miss Korea 1009, the place she was topped as Miss Korea Japan Jin, on account of being a Japanese singer of Korean descent. EunB kickstarted her profession within the leisure enterprise with the debut of Girls’ Code.
On Sep.3, 2014, the group was concerned in a severe automobile collision, that was confirmed deadly for 2 of the members. The second main reason for loss of life in Ok-Pop is automobile crashes, on account of their packed schedules, which frequently pressure the drivers and managers to hurry whereas trying to achieve their occasions on time. Allegedly, the automobile during which the members had been, reached a top of 137km/h (85mph), inflicting a violent collision on the highway. EunB was pronounced useless on the scene, whereas Rise was listed as being in vital situation. Her situation, sadly, deteriorated over the times, passing away from extreme accidents 4 days later. Rise and EunB handed away on the ages of 23 and 25 years outdated, respectively.
Lee Hye-ryeon (Heo Yun; U;Nee)
Additionally identified by her stage identify U;Nee, Heo Yun was a singer, rapper, dancer, and actress that debuted in 2003 as a soloist. Beneath Synnara J’S Leisure, the singer debuted as a dance-pop musician, well-received by South Korean media and the viewers alike. U;Nee was additionally identified for pursuing a “horny idea,” upon being marketed for her picture and transformation right into a seductive R&B type.
As a sufferer of South Korea’s steady dismissal of psychological well being struggles and find assist to look after them, U;Nee died by what was dominated as a suicide on Jan.1, 2007, at solely 25 years outdated. After having her loss of life investigated by the police, the pressure decided she had been affected by despair and nervousness, and though there was no suicide notice, the singer usually shared her internal ideas on her web site, together with sharing her loneliness and lack of goal in life.
Kim Dongyoon
Kim Dongyoon was a member of the rookie Ok-Pop group Spectrum, which debuted in Could 2018, two months earlier than the rapper’s passing. The group was comprised of members who participated within the survival present MIXNINE, chosen for his or her expertise and star-qualities. Whereas Dongyoon wasn’t initially a winner on the collection, after rating twenty first place, he formally debuted because the rapper and lyricist of the group after the discharge of their mini album in 2018.
On July 27, 2018, two months after their debut, WYNN Leisure introduced Dongyoon had handed that very same day. The funeral was held amongst relations and associates, as they opted in opposition to a public funeral that are oftentimes held for celebrities in South Korea. Whereas no reason for loss of life was ever specified, even when the household requested for an post-mortem, Dongyoon’s passing was completely sudden. Dongyoon handed away at simply 20 years outdated.
Tany
In 2018, the Ok-Pop business was but once more hit with one other heartbreaking loss amongst idols. Tany, or Kim Jinsoo, a rising rookie soloist identified for his 2016 hit tune “At all times Keep in mind,” honoring the over 300 victims from the South Korean ferry catastrophe of 2014. The tune gained immense reputation, as to today, the ferry catastrophe resonates with the inhabitants of the nation.
On the age of twenty-two, in April 14, 2018, Tany handed away from a automobile crash as he drove within the south west of the nation. Authorities confirmed his passing, after it was mentioned his automobile collided with a construction, because the singer tried to achieve town of Mokpo. The automobile was allegedly utterly destroyed, and Tany, alongside one other passenger on the identical car, handed away within the hearth ensuing from the accident. As a sufferer of the second most typical reason for loss of life in Ok-Pop, Tany’s loss of life hit the business and followers with shock and unhappiness.
Whereas there isn’t a telling what the longer term could maintain, all these Ok-Pop stars will probably be remembered for the ray of sunshine they introduced upon their followers, and can nonetheless be remembered by their household and associates, without end immortalized by their ardour for music.
Should you or somebody you recognize could also be contemplating suicide, contact the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Arduous of Listening to: 1-800-799-4889) or the Disaster Textual content Line by texting HOME to 741741. An inventory of worldwide disaster sources can be discovered right here.