5 k-pop idols who left us too soon

The lives of K-pop idols are not always surrounded only by glamor and success, there are many difficulties that artists in the genre face that are overshadowed by the glare of the spotlight and that can affect the lives of groups and soloists, sometimes causing or increasing situations that end up taking them off the path they dreamed of following.

In other situations, the desire to be on stage and win over fans from all over the world is interrupted by some sudden event that, for some reason, could not be avoided. It was thinking about occurrences like this that RECREIO put together a list of 5 k-pop idols who left us too soon; check it out:

1. EunB and Rise from Ladies’ Code

On September 3, 2014, the group Ladies’ Code suffered a serious accident. The group was returning to Seoul after a show in Daegu, a city in South Korea, when the rear wheel of the car they were in detached from the vehicle. The car then collided with a protective bar on the road.

The first confirmed loss was EunBwho, like the driver of the vehicle, died instantly. She was only 21 years old. RiSe and Sojungwere seriously injured and, among them, RiSe She was the only one who failed to survive, and her death was confirmed 4 days after the accident, at the age of 23.

2. Jonghyun

Member of SHINee, Jonghyun he was just 27 years old when he was found unconscious in his home on December 18, 2017. The idol died after suffering a cardiac arrest in the hospital, shocking the entire music industry who, in large numbers, mourned the loss of the vocalist who remained in the group for nine years.

After his death, a farewell letter written by the idol was revealed by his friend. Jonghyun and singer Jang Hee-yeonfrom the group Dear Cloud, where, in the written content, it is possible to notice that the eternal member of SHINee lived in depression.

An excerpt says:

I’m broken inside. The depression that was slowly destroying me, has now devoured me, and I have not been able to overcome it. It’s incredible how much it hurts. No one is more tormented or weakened than me.

At the time, SHINee, which was already dealing with a criminal case against Onewalmost disbanded. Still, they persisted and, in 2018, released a song in honor of Jonghyun: “Our Page” (in Korean the song is translated as “The words you left behind”). In the MV, Onew, Key, Minho and Taemin appear next to a vacant space occupied only by a fifth microphone.

3. Sulli

friend of Jonghyun, Choi Jin-ribetter known as Sullibecame known after debuting in the group f(x). She, who had left her training in 2015 to dedicate herself to her acting career, was found dead in her home, located near Seoul, South Korea, in 2019.

With her death confirmed, the Seongnam police station, which investigated the circumstances of the idol’s death, revealed that there was evidence that she suffered from depression. Furthermore, the news of the death of Sulli came to light after the singer and actress reported verbal attacks and threats that she suffered in virtual environments due to her support for feminist causes, something that in the South Korean country is not welcomed due to the conservatism that remains strong in the social sphere of the place. .

4. Goo Hara

Just six weeks after the death of Sullithe world of K-pop was shaken by yet another loss: Goo Haramember of KARA, whose death is dated November 24, 2019. Like his professional colleague and personal friend, Sullithe artist had already commented to her fans, through social media, that she was facing cyberbullying, in addition to having complained about harassment.

One day after death, Lee Yong-pyocommissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, told local media (via G1), that “a pessimistic handwritten note about his life was found on a table in the living room”, which has once again brought up discussions about the pressure that artists face both in the K-pop industry and in South Korean society, the effects of which are seen on the artists’ mental health.

Just like SHINee, KARA also continued with its activities after the loss of the artist. In fact, the group’s most recent release, “Hello”, a single released on July 16 this year, features the voice of Goo Hara.

5. Moonbin

Model, actor and idol, the K-pop industry has received Moonbin officially in 2016, when he debuted in the group ASTRO. Moonbin marks one of the most recent losses in the music industry, after all, the idol had his death confirmed on April 19, 2023, by Fantagio, the company responsible for his career. The artist was found dead by his manager at his home in the Gangnam district, located in South Korea.

The death mobilized fans and artists, who paid public tributes to Moonbin through letters, appearances at memorials and even mentions in programs and thanks at awards shows, making it clear that the idol still lives in the hearts and thoughts of those who, personally or through their work, got to know him.

Read also: Remember the career of ASTRO’s Moonbin