Korean publication looks into why the growth of suicide amongst its entertainers

In a recent article on Chosun Ilbo, with the death of actor/singer Park Yong-ha, the publication looks into why suicides have increased amongst Korean entertainers.

Here is a brief excerpt from the article:

The roster of recent celebrity suicides in Korea is getting longer and longer, with Lee Eun-ju, U;Nee, Jeong Da-bin, Ahn Jae-hwan, Choi Jin-sil, Choi Jin-young and now Park Yong-ha killing themselves since 2005. The numbers swell if actors or actresses who were either unknown when they took their lives or rose to fame only by committing suicide are included.

Although there are no accurate statistics, Korean celebrities seem more prone to suicide than stars in the U.S., Europe or Japan. They experience the same pressures as their counterparts overseas in terms of the fickleness of fame and irregular lifestyles. So what is it that drives them so often to take their own lives?

◆ Suicide Capital of the World

For one thing, Korea as a whole has the world’s highest suicide rate. For every 100,000 Koreans, 21.5 commit suicide, as against the OECD average of 11.1. Experts say celebrity suicides can provide insight into why Koreans tend to be more prone to taking their own lives.

“Koreans tend to form their sense of identity through how they are perceived by others and may give up and make drastic choices when they’re no longer able to show their best side to others,” said Hwang Sang-min, a psychologist at Yonsei University. “And that tendency is stronger among celebrities, whose livelihood depends on their popularity.”

Read more of this article from Chosun

 

Fans all over Asia mourn the death of actor/singer Park Yong-ha

With the shocking suicide of South Korean actor/singer Park Yong-ha, fans from all over Asia mourned his death.

Park recently performed in Japan and also released a chart-topping album, so many questions have risen of how can a talent who was loved by many, kill himself?

Chosun reported:

Park had split with his manager, who became the head of an entertainment agency, late last year and often talked about his disappointment in relationships with people when he began managing his own affairs. He appears to have suffered added pressure when he found out that his father had cancer, several of his acquaintances said

Police said Park had hung himself on his bedpost with an electrical wire. His mother, who found the body, called emergency services immediately, but it was too late. Police said suicide was the most probable cause since there were no signs of forced entry or a struggle. Park left no will or suicide note to give a clue to the motive.

Two or three days before his death, Park apparently told friends that his work and life were “too difficult.” Police heard testimony from Park’s friends that he suffered from insomnia due to stress and was taking sleeping pills. According to the wishes of the family, no autopsy will be conducted.

A rep from Park’s Japanese record label told newspapers:

Japanese media focused on the fact that Park was about to start his first Japanese concert tour in five years. A spokesman for the company that released his album in Japan told Nikkan Sports, “Nothing seemed strange about him when he came to Korea on Saturday after completing his concert in Saitama. He seemed very happy about the concert tour in Japan.” Park released his fifth album in Japan last month and was getting ready for a 14-city tour there.

 

Actor/singer Park Yong-ha found dead

Actor/singer Park Yong-ha was found dead on early Wednesday morning. The popular actor/singer was one of the talents who emerged strong in the Korean wave in Asia (especially in Japan as the actor appeared in the popular drama “Winter Sonata”) was found dead, hanging on a cord of his cell phone charger by his mother according to various news reports. Park Yong-ha was 33-years-old.

Reports are that Park Yong-ha committed suicide but a police investigation is pending. If it is a suicide, Park will be another well-known talent from S. Korea to join a growing number of talents who have committed suicide in the past five years.

 

“LOST” actress Yunjin Kim marries in Hawaii

“LOST” actress Yunjin Kim (Kim Yun-Jin) has married her boyfriend and long-time manager Park Jeong-Hyuk (CEO of Zion Entertainment) in Hawaii.

Kim released a statement from her agency before her wedding, “I have decided to spend the rest of my life with my partner who has been watching over me for the last eight years. We first met in 2002, and began an intimate relationship in 2007 when I was writing my autobiography.”

 

Actor and singer Choi Jin-young commits suicide

After losing his famous sister Choi Jin-sil to suicide in October 2008, actor/singer Cho Jin-young has taken his life.  According to Chosun:

Actor and singer Choi Jin-young was found dead in an apparent suicide at his home in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul on Monday afternoon. He was 39. His elder sister Choi Jin-sil, a famous actress, also killed herself in October 2008.

According to the Seoul Gangnam Police Station, police officers went to Choi’s home upon receiving a report at 2:14 p.m. and found him dead in the attic with an electric wire around his neck.

His body was found by his mother and a woman identified as Chung, who was his junior in college. When Choi did not answer the phone, Chung alerted Choi’s mother and the two hurried to his home together.

Choi was declared dead at Yonsei University’s Gangnam Severance Hospital around 2:46 p.m. “When he arrived, there was neither breathing activity nor heartbeat. We attempted CPR but there was no reaction,” the hospital said.

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