This year, the entertainment industry mourned as many stars left us, with their departures bringing an overwhelming sense of loss to colleagues and fans alike.
Hyun Mi, The Original Diva, Becomes a Star
On April 4th, the passing of the late Hyun Mi, a role model to many junior singers, was reported. She was found collapsed at her home in Ichon-dong, Seoul, and was taken to a nearby hospital but, regrettably, bid the world an eternal farewell. Friends who were close to Hyun Mi, who had been out to dinner the evening before her death, could not hide their dismay.
Singer and president of the Korea Singers Association, Lee Ja Yeon, spoke about her death, saying, "It seems she fell. Last year, she fell while making flower pots on the veranda and broke her ankle. She said, 'I'm all healed now,' and 'I can stand on stage,' so we prepared a stage for her. But she fell in front of the sink. If someone had helped her quickly, maybe this wouldn't have happened," expressing her deep sorrow.
Moon Bin of ASTRO, Forever 25
Moon Bin, a former child actor and member of the group ASTRO, was found dead at his home in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on April 19th. His sudden passing was even more shocking as he had been active with ASTRO member Sanha in the unit group 'Moonbin & Sanha' and had a fan concert in Jakarta ahead.
Before his death, Moon Bin made an honest confession in a live broadcast, saying, "I was really struggling." He had expressed a determination to take better care of himself, acknowledging the responsibilities of his chosen career. However, at the young age of 25, he became a star in the sky.
The grief among his family, colleagues, and fans was immense. His younger sister, Moon Su Ah of the group Billlie, announced a hiatus from activities, and close colleagues like SEVENTEEN's Boo Seung Kwan and Bvndit members experienced difficulties due to the emotional impact. ASTRO members, including Cha Eun Woo, who attended the funeral and visited Moon Bin's memorial space, 'Space of the Moon,' touched many fans with their gestures of remembrance.
Tragic News from Abroad: Seo Se Won
Comedian Seo Se Won, who remarried a much younger Haegum player and moved to Cambodia to work as a pastor and businessman after a contentious divorce due to domestic violence in 2015, passed away on April 20th in a hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Known to have diabetes, he reportedly fell into cardiac arrest while receiving an IV. His daughter, broadcaster Seo Dong Joo, who had been estranged from Seo Se Won after her parents' divorce, fulfilled her duty as a bereaved family member.
However, Seo Se Won's death is still shrouded in many suspicions. Cambodian police preliminarily concluded that his death occurred during an injection of a nutritional supplement, but allegations have been raised that the police knew and concealed that the drug administered just before his death was propofol. Seo Dong Joo later appeared on SBS's investigative program 'That's What I Want to Know' to express her frustration, but the circumstances surrounding Seo Se Won's death remain unclear.
The Turbulent Lives of Choi Sung Bong and Myeong Guk Hwan
Choi Sung Bong, a 'Korea's Got Talent' runner-up embroiled in controversies over fake cancer diagnosis and misuse of donations, was found dead on June 20th in his home in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul. Choi, who had shared a heart-wrenching story of leaving an orphanage at five and living on the streets, became a posthumous unclaimed death after no relatives came forward to claim his body. He was temporarily placed in a morgue but eventually received a funeral thanks to his former manager.
Veteran singer Myeong Guk Hwan, who appeared last year on MBN's program 'Special World' sharing his struggles with Parkinson's disease and living in a basement room, passed away on August 19th at the age of 96. He passed away in a nursing hospital and was nearly processed as an unclaimed body until the Korea Singers Association stepped in to cover the funeral expenses after hearing the news about two weeks post-mortem.
The Pain of Scheduled Departures: Lee Pyeong, Byun Hee Bong, Charlie Park, and One Two's Oh Chang Hoon
Model Lee Pyeong passed away on May 31st at the age of 43 after a battle with cancer. Veteran actor Byun Hee Bong succumbed to recurrent pancreatic cancer on September 18th at the age of 81 after previously receiving a clean bill of health.
Charlie Park, singer and father of Shinhwa member Jun Jin, passed away on November 6th after a long battle with a stroke. Jun Jin, who had been estranged from his father for over three years, stood by as the chief mourner with his wife, Ryu Yi Seo. Oh Chang Hoon, a member of the duo One Two, passed away on November 14th after a long battle with stage 4 colon cancer.
Additionally, trot singer Haesu, known as a junior of Jang Yoon Jung, passed away on May 12th. Jang Yoon Jung expressed her mourning through her husband, broadcaster Do Kyung Wan's social media, sharing a heartfelt letter about the painful farewell. Comedian Lee Ji Su died suddenly on July 9th at her home in Mangwon-dong, Seoul, after being hospitalized for pyelonephritis. Actor No Young Guk passed away from a heart attack on September 18th while appearing in the KBS 2TV weekend drama 'Hyo Shim's Independent Living,' shocking everyone.
