Police are calling on the media to refrain from spreading speculations about the death of former f(x) member Sulli pending the release of the official police statement.
It can be recalled that Sulli was found lifeless by her manager at her house last October 14. The manager went to check on her after he was unable to contact Sulli for her scheduled activity. Sulli, who was mourned by colleagues in the industry and fans, was only 25 at the time of her death.
Some media outfits immediately implied that Sulli might have taken her own life since there was no sign of forced entry. There were also no signs of external force or injuries that suggest murder, based on the initial information released from her autopsy.
According to a report by All Kpop, the full report of the autopsy is still pending with the National Forensic Service, which means the police are still investigating Sulli's case. Based on protocol, the case will only be considered closed when the official findings are released by forensics.
After the news of Sulli's death broke, netizens were quick to point fingers on the cause of her death, jumping to the conclusion that the singer-actress committed suicide because of online bullying. Sulli has been the subject of online censure for a long time because she dared to break the taboos established in the Korean entertainment system.
Some netizens have already started petitions to impose more penalties against malicious commenters. One of the petitions involved the use of real names when it comes to posting comments. The move is expected to promote responsible and ethical behavior online. This will also make it easier for authorities to track down abusive netizens to hold them accountable for their actions.
Based on a survey by Realmeter, roughly 70 percent of respondents were supportive of the scheme. "The freedom of expression is a vital value in [a] democratic society, but insulting and hurting someone else's dignity is beyond that limit. There need to be far harsher penalties for those who violate that law," Yonsei University Psychology Professor Lee Dong-gwi said in an interview with Reuters.
Sulli's death has also prompted some lawmakers to address the growing problem of malicious comments plaguing many entities in government and entertainment. The Sulli Act, which is now being proposed by nine members of the National Assembly, will be discussed by lawmakers in early December, Soompi reported.
