There have been numerous cases where Korean stars tried to take their own lives after getting involved in drug scandals
Due to the severity of drug scandals in Korea, various stars tried to take their own lives after getting involved in these issues. While some were fortunately saved, many did not survive.
On December 27, actor Lee Sun-kyun passed away after being found in a sealed car. Police found burnt coal marks on the passenger seat, suggesting that Lee Sun-kyun resorted to extreme actions. It is also known that Lee Sun-kyun’s wife called the police that the actor left home and left behind a letter resembling a farewell note.
Lee Sun-kyun, 48, likely took his own life after suffering from a drug scandal
Although Lee Sun-kyun’s drug test results came back negative, various parties including the actor himself gave conflicting statements, causing the drug scandal to be prolonged.
Particularly, Lee Sun-kyun admitted to inhaling something he thought was a sleeping pill. He believed he was deceived, and the deceiver intentionally did so to extort money from him.
While the investigation was ongoing, Lee Sun-kyun passed away. As the information spread, the Korean public divided into two sides, with some criticizing the actor for being irresponsible and not thinking about his family. Meanwhile, others argued that public opinion being too harsh on celebrities involved in drug scandals had led to significant pressure, prompting celebrities to make extreme choices.
Before Lee Sun-kyun, singer-actor T.O.P, a former member of BIGBANG, was hospitalized in a comatose state due to an overdose of drugs during investigation regarding his drug scandal.
T.O.P enlisted in February 2017, but by July 2017, he faced accusations of drug use with a female trainee. After the investigation, T.O.P pleaded guilty, receiving a 2-year suspended sentence and a small administrative fine, continuing his military service obligations.
In 2022, five years after the drug scandal, T.O.P revealed in an interview with a magazine that he had tried to take his own life in 2017.
Later on, he realized that his actions had caused pain to those around him, his family, and fans. T.O.P was fortunate to be saved in time and gradually healed.
Unlike T.O.P, however, actor Kim Sung-min passed away after hanging himself. The actor, who was imprisoned in 2011 for drug use, relapsed in 2013 and once again went to jail for drug-related offenses. It was in early 2016 that Lee Sung-min was released.
The first time Kim Sung-min went to jail for drugs, his career completely crumbled. He was abandoned by the public, and opportunities in the industry were non-existent. The pain, combined with a history of depression, led the actor into significant trouble, making him feel miserable and hopeless. He eventually tried to take his own life, and succeeded.
It can be seen that there have been numerous cases where Korean stars tried to take their own lives after getting involved in drug scandals, likely due to the immense public pressure and the loss of their careers.
Source: K14
