Singer Chae Dong-Ha, a former member of band SG Wannabe, took his life in 2011. Television star Choi Jin-sil took her life in 2008, followed by her brother and fellow actor Choi Jin-yeong in 2010. In 2005, actor Lee Eun-Joo committed suicide at the age of 25, followed by 26-year-old actor and singer Yuni in 2007, and actor Jeong Da-bin in the same year. In 1996, Korean-American singer Charles Park, also known as Seo Ji-won, took his life at the age of 19.įolk rock singer Kim Kwang-seok also suicided in the same year, at the age of 31. Even if you can’t smile don’t fault me on my way,” the note said. The depression that was slowly devouring me, at last consumed me. In December 2017, pop star Kim Jonghyun took his own life at the age of 27, leaving behind a note detailing his declining mental health believed to be caused by the intense pressures of fame.
Picture: AAP Image/Yonhap News Agencyīut sadly, South Korea’s entertainment industry, and in particular the K-pop industry, has a horrendous reputation for the exploitation of its young stars. Mourners held photos of Jang Ja-yeon at her funeral in 2009.
In the end, the death was ruled as a suicide due to the fact the performer had been suffering from depression.
#BOYS OVER FLOWER JANG JA YEON SERIES#
Ja-yeon, who shot to fame through the television series Boys Over Flowers, identified many “sponsors” in her note - influential people who helped aspiring stars land roles on hit shows and movies.īut despite the then-29-year-old’s shocking claims, when the case was first investigated, only the CEO of her agency and her manager were indicted on violence and defamation charges.Ī further 10 men on Ja-yeon’s list were investigated at the time, but none were charged. Woman’s ‘intimidating beauty’ hurt her career.IN 2009, popular South Korean actor Jang Ja-yeon committed suicide after claiming her management company forced her to have sex with a string of well-known men.Īccording to, in her seven-page suicide note, Ja-yeon named “at least 31” men who had sexually abused her, including corporate executives, newspaper representatives and directors.