Tragic Deaths of Korean Celebrities 2

Korean drama viewers are the most avid fans not only in South Korea, but in any part of the world. Every Korean celebrities have their own followers, and when it comes to gossips, or any controversy where celebrities are involved, fans are the most affected. And when tragic death comes to famous celebrities, these “fans” mourns with the celebrity’s family. And if you are one of those avid followers of Korean dramas, then you may know these celebrity who met their tragic death in my second episode.

1) Woo Seung-yeon

Woo Seung-yeon was born on May 24,  1983, and died on April 27, 2009 by committing suicide. Woo Seung-yeon was a South Korean model and actress, who started her modelling career as a fashion model in magazine and television commercials, and acting career in 2007, when she had appeared in minor roles in the films Herb and in 2009 Private Eye. According to sources, Woo Seung-yeon, had been suffering for depression, being extremely stress after several failed auditions.  Woo was found hanged at her home in Jamsil-dong, Seoul on April 27, 2009, discovered at 7:40 pm by her roommate, in apparent suicide. Woo sent a text message to her sister saying “I’m sorry”, before her death. Woo was on a leave of absence from her French language and literature studies at Chung-Ang University at the time of her untimely death. Police believe that Woo’s extreme depression over her situation and fear of the future was the cause of committing suicide.

2)  Kim Seok-kyun

Kim Seok-kyun  was found hanging in his home on January 17, at age 30, having committed suicide. Kim Seok-kyun left a suicide note saying, “I’m sorry to my family. Kim Seok-kyun stated his acting career at age 26, with a short film , followed by several short films, but was not quite famous as other Korean celebrities. Some speculations, has said that due to depression over his low career and some failed films and musical auditions led him to commit suicide by hanging.

3)  Lee Eon

Lee Eon born on February 5, 1981, who died at age 27 on August 21, 2008 in a tragic accident, who was a South actor and model. Lee Eon was born Park Sang-min. While in elementary school, Lee began practicing ssireum (a folk wrestling style and traditional Korean national sport) winning gold medals at Korean national ssireum competitions in 1997 and 1998. As a freshman at university, Lee Eon was inspired by South Korean actor, Cha Seung-won to become a model, and after losing 30 kg (66 lb) he made his debut in 1999 at a fashion show in Busan. Lee later, started his acting career, made his film debut in 2006 film Like a Virgin, as he played a ssireum wrestler, and helped lead actor Ryu Deok-hwan learned the moves. Lee Eon also appeared in the 2007 hit drama series Coffee Prince in 2007, as Hwang Min-yeop (waiter at Coffee Prince) and made his final appearance and last performance, in Strongest Chil Woo, a KBS period drama, playing the character as Jaja, (as the man with the ax, a former bodyguard of Crown Prince Sohyeon). On August 21, 2008, Lee Eon died in a motorcycle accident. After celebrating a party after the airing of the last episode of Strongest Chil Woo, Lee Eon headed home when he met his tragic accident, when his motorcycle hit the guardrail of an overpass in Hannam-dong, Seoul, at around 2 a.m. Lee died at age 27, and died at the scene from a broken neck and was taken to the nearby Soonchunhyang University  Hospital.

4)  EunB

South Korean girl group formed in 2013 by Polaris Entertainment, known as the Ladies’ Code, consisted of leader Ashley and members Rise, EunB, Sojung and Zuny. The girl group was involved in a car accident  on September 3, 2014, which resulted in the deaths of South Korean singer Go Eun-bi, better known as EunB and Rise. The Ladies’ Code made their debut with the mini-album Code#01 and the lead track Bad Girl, which was released on March 7, 2013. Rise participated in 2009 Miss Korea as Japan’s representative, (while her sister Kwon Rie participated in 2007 Miss Korea) and won the Korean Abroad Award. EunB was the sister-in-law of anchor Kim Sung Joon of SBS 8 News.  

5)   Kwon Ri-se

Kwon Ri-se  born on August 16, 1991 who died from accident on September 7, 2014. Kwon Ri-se was born in Fukushima, Japan, ans she was fluent in Japanese and Korean language. Kwon Ri-se better known as Rise as he stage name, was a South Korean idol singer, and was a member of the K-pop girl group Ladies’ Code. Before she  joined Ladies’ Code, Rise joined the 2009 Miss Korea and was crowned as Miss Korea Japan Jin. Rise was one of the Top 12 contestants of Star Audition The Great Birth at MBC. Rise appeared in the MBC third season reality show We Got Married in 2011, where she was paired up with David Oh, a former Birth of a Great Star contestant. On September 3, 2014 at around 1:30 a.m. (KST), Rise was critically injured in a serious car accident with the Ladies’ Code group returning to Seoul after attending the recording Open Concert of KBS at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) ( completing promotions for “Kiss Kiss”). Mr. Park, the manager of Ladies’ Code, who was driving the van, had been driving at the speed 137 km/h (85 mph), causing Park to suddenly lose control of the vehicle, due to rainy conditions and slippery roads, that caused  the group’s van to skid many times before it crashed into a protective wall in the area of the Singal Junction on Yeongdong Expressway. Rise had obtained severe injuries by the time the paramedics arrived at the scene, but the paramedics were unable to recognize her immediately. However, her bandmates Ashley and Zuny, manager Park and one stylist sustained minor injuries while bandmate Sojung sustained major injuries. Bandmate EunB died on the spot due to severe injuries. Rise was rushed to the Catholic University of Korea St. Vincent’s Hospital, where she was given emergency CPR before undergoing  surgery due to severe cranial and abdominal injuries. On September 7, 2014, Rise who never woke up from coma, succumbed to her injuries at 10:10am (KST), in Ajou University Hospital. Rise was cremated after her funeral and her ashes were taken back to Japan, where another funeral was held for her family and close friends, where she was laid to rest.

6)  Yoo Chae-yeong  

Yoo Chae-yeong  was born on September 22, 1973, and died on  July 24, 2014, from gastric cancer at age 40. Yoo was a South Korean singer, actress, and radio host. Yoo Cahe-won was born as Kim Soo-jin, when she was in high school, she made her entertainment debut in 1989, at age 17, as part of the group Punsudeul (Idiots). Using Yoo Chae-yeong as her stage name, she became one of the original members of the popular K-pop group Cool in 1994. Yoo appeared in supporting roles as an actress, in movies and television dramas, such as in 2002 comedy film Sex Is Zero and in 2007’s sequel Sex Is Zero 2.  Yoo was also a famous radio host and personality on the MBC program, Good Weekend, It’s Kim Kyung-sik and Yoo Chae-yeong, known for her quick wit and being modest to herself in a humorous way of comedy. In October 2013, Yoo was diagnosed with gastric cancer, and died on July 24, 2014 at the age of 40. Yoo Chae-yeong is married to Kim Joo-hwan from 2008 until her death in 2014.

7)  Kim Ja-ok

Kim Ja-ok was a South Korean actress, born on October 11, 1951, died of lung cancer on November 16, 2014, born in Busan, South Korea. She is best known for her role as Han-kyul‘s mother in 2007 South Korean drama series, Coffee Prince starred by South Korean actors, Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun-kyun, Chae Jung-an and Lee Eon (who also died from a motorcycle accident ob August 21, 2008).  During the early period of the 1970s, Kim Ja-ok mainly starred in TV series, during the early 1970’s, and concentrate on films in the late 1970s, Kim Ja-ok became famous for her cheerful image as a woman of the new generation such as Sinbu ilgi. Kim is married to singer Oh Seung Geun. Announcer, Kim Tae Ok is Kim’s brother. The Yonhap News reported  that Kim Ja-ok had died from lung cancer on November 16, 2014.

8) Yeo Woon-kay

Yeo Woon-kay (February 25, 1940 – May 22, 2009) was a South Korean film actress and television personality, born on February 25, 1940, best known for Korean films such as Money’s Warfare, Bad Family and My Name is Kim Sam Soon. Yeo often portray a grandmother roles starting in her twenties, such as her roles in 1986’s Toji and in 2003’s Jewel in the Palace. In 2007, Yeo Woon-kay was diagnosed with kidney cancer, while working on the SBS movie The King and I.  however, she continued to act and worked on the KBS2 production of Jang-hwa and Hong-ryeon (The Tale of Two Sisters), but due to pneumonia, Yeo quit working, which indicates the spread of cancer to her lungs. In May 2009, Yeo was admitted to the hospital intensive care unit (ICU). According to reports Yeo was in coma, and was on life support. On May 22, 2009, Yeo died around 8 P.M. at age 69, at the Incheon Catholic Medical Center in Incheon, South Korea. Her funeral was held at the Yonsei University Severance Hospital. 

9)  Kim Ji-hoo

Kim Ji-hoo (April 5, 1985 – October 6, 2008) was an actor and model, who made his debut as a fashion model in 2007, and later appeared as a guest star on the MBC drama series, Before and After Plastic Surgery, and on family sitcom The Unstoppable High Kick. Kim Ji-hoo came out as gay on April 21, 2008, on the tvN reality show Coming Out, a series which profiles the Koreans lives of LGBT. Kim’s personal webpage was overwhelmed with messages denouncing his sexuality after the episode was aired, followed by his management company declined to renew his contracts, and several fashion shows and television shows appearances was cancelled. On October 6, 2008, Kim was found hanged at his home in Jamsil, southern Seoul, and a suicide note was found at the scene, written as “I’m lonely and in a difficult situation. Please cremate my body.” According to Kim’s mother, his son, Ji-hoo, “underwent many professional and personal difficulties following his coming-out”, while police attributed Kim Ji-hoo’s suicide to public preconceived opinion against homosexuality. On October 9, 2008, his funeral was held. Kim Ji-hoo’s death was one of many suicides among celebrities in South Korea, including the earlier deaths of actors Ahn Jae-hwan, Choi Jin-sil and President Roh Moo-hyun. 

10)  Jang Chae-won

Jang Chae-won, is a transgender entertainer, who committed suicide at age 26, on October 3, 2008, who was overshadowed by the suicide of famous actress, Choi Jin-shil just after her death. Jang Chae-won is a transgender, who rose to fame when she appeared in a show before and after undergoing sex change surgery. Police reported that the cause of the suicide was the breakup with her boyfriend. Jang Chae-won, was found by a friend hanged on Friday night in her home’s bathroom in Seoul about 11 p.m. According to the police, after a friend visiting her house, found her dead, after Jang’s boyfriend said Jang did not answer the phone. Police suspect Jang committed suicide, based on testimonies from her friends, that she was emotionally distressed after the broke up with with her boyfriend. Jang Chae-won, whose male name was Jeong-hwan, became famous when he appeared on a quiz-like show Game for Truth in May 2007, as a woman after undergoing a sex change operation, appearing on the same show but as a man three years ago. Jang Chae-won has not appeared on other shows however became known and famous as the second Harisu, a famous transgender entertainer who also changed sex from male to female.