2023 was a year marked by the unfortunate news of several celebrities. Let’s take a look at the stars who left us for the eternal rest
1. Singer Hyun Mee
Singer Hyun Mee, who received nationwide love with “Night Fog”, passed away on April 4th at the age of 85. She was found collapsed at her home and, despite being transferred to a nearby hospital, ultimately passed away. Hyun Mee began her singing career in 1957 and gained significant popularity with the release of the song “Night Fog” in her first album in 1962. Subsequently, hits like “The Face I Want to See”, “Leave Without Words”, “All Is My Love” and “No Matter What, I Loved It” established her as a beloved national singer.
Hyun Mee’s funeral was conducted under the auspices of the president of the Korea Singers Association, and she received farewells from numerous fellow celebrities, including Ha Chun-hwa, Sul Woon-do and Hyun Sook.
2. ASTRO’s Moonbin
ASTRO’s Moonbin, who left us at the young age of 25 on April 19th, caused shockwaves throughout the entire music industry. Official schedules were canceled one after another as the entire music industry mourned his passing.
Moonbin’s younger sister, Billlie’s Moon Sua, and Moonbin’s close friends, Seventeen’s Seungkwan and VIVIZ’s SinB, took breaks due to the shock.
Following the wishes of the bereaved family, Moonbin’s funeral was private, and the burial site was not disclosed. The agency set up a separate memorial space for fans.
3. Musical actress Park Soo-ryun
Musical actress Park Soo-ryun (real name Park Young-in) sadly left us on June 11th after suffering a fall on the stairs. She was 29 years old. After falling into a state of brain death, her family decided to donate her organs to honor her warm-hearted nature.
Debuting in 2018 with the musical “Il Tenore”, Park Soo-ryun gained recognition through various popular musicals such as “The Day We Loved”, “Siddhartha” and appeared as a supporting actress in JTBC’s drama “Snowdrop”.
4. Actor Byun Hee-bong
Veteran actor Byun Hee-bong passed away on September 18th while battling pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old. Byun Hee-bong, who started his entertainment career in 1966, gained fame through significant works like “1st Republic”, “Five Hundred Years of the Joseon Dynasty – The Ume Tree in the Midst of the Snow”, “Brilliant Dawn” and “Hur Jun”.
He later made a strong impression with his performances in director Bong Joon-ho’s films such as “Barking Dogs Never Bite”, “Memories of Murder” and “The Host”. In 2020, he was recognized as a national actor by receiving the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards.
5. Actor Noh Young-gook
Actor Noh Young-gook passed away suddenly due to cardiac arrest on the morning of September 18th, the same day news about Byun Hee-bong’s death was reported. He was 75 years old. Debuting in 1974, Noh Young-gook gained love for his roles in various works, including the dramas “The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won”, “Eyes of Dawn”, “The Great King, Sejong” and the movie “Bravo, My Life”.
In 2019, he expanded his activities as a singer by releasing the single “Best Woman”.
6. Actor Lee Sun-kyun
Actor Lee Sun-kyun was found dead in a park in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of December 27th, sending shockwaves through everyone. Previously investigated for drug use in October, Lee Sun-kyun left the world, leaving a note resembling a will.
The sudden news of Lee Sun-kyun’s passing shocked the entertainment industry. Many official events and movie release schedules were postponed as a sign of mourning.
Starting his acting career in 2001, Lee Sun-kyun gained popularity through numerous hit dramas such as “White Tower”, “Coffee Prince”, “Pasta” and “My Mister”. He rose to international stardom with the 2019 film “Parasite”, sweeping various awards.
Lee Sun-kyun bid farewell at the age of 48, leaving behind his wife – fellow actress Jeon Hye-jin – and two sons.
Source: Wikitree
