(TW: mental health, depression, suicide) This page was created as a way of memorializing the k-pop idols who have taken their own lives after struggling with their mental health. Every so often, on an anniversary or so, I do a review of one of their solo careers or bands and try to learn more about them. It’s my way of trying to use whatever small platform I have in my little corner of the internet to raise awareness of a topic close to my heart. I hope every day that I never have to add another name to this page. If you have a minute, take a look through the links and try to learn something about these people, who are more than just their names and dates.
Lead vocalist of SHINee, host of radio show Blue Night, and a mental health advocate who was one of the first SM Entertainment idols to write, compose, and produce his own work. Also a solo artist, with five excellent albums (including two anthologies), and a book called Skeleton Flower.
“Even though we can’t communicate using the same language, we can use music instead.”
-Jonghyun, Skeleton Flower
Performance of Y Si Fuera Ella
<— Key’s I Will Fight, written to process his grief over Jonghyun’s passing.
Leader and main vocalist of Top Media’s band 100%, an earnest supporter of queer rights and an actor in several dramas including The King And I. *
“May the souls of the deceased breathe. I hope you are comfortable up in the sky. I want you to be a bright star and shine all over this world.”
-Woo Changbum, Minwoo’s bandmate, on his passing
<— 100%’s song Remember, for Minwoo
*It has not been officially stated what Minwoo died of, this is speculation, but I wanted to include him here.
Choi Jinri (Sulli): 3/29/94- -10/14/19
Sub vocalist and visual of f(x), an actor in several dramas including To The Beautiful You, and a trainee since age 9. An outspoken figure in the Korean feminist movement, and also an artist. Best friend of Goo Hara.
“They say ‘women shouldn’t talk too much or have strong opinions’. All of that was the opposite of who I was. We need more women to speak up. Women can get angry too.”
-Sulli, Persona: Sulli
Amber (bandmate) discussing Sulli
<— IU and Suga’s Eight, for Sulli, who is depicted as an animated girl.
Main dancer of KARA, an amateur oil painter, a soloist in both Korea and Japan, writer of a beauty book called Nail Hara, and a figure in the women’s rights movement when she sued her abusive ex-boyfriend and helped break the Burning Sun scandal. Best friend of Sulli.
“The best way to get revenge is to smile, be happy, and never let them know how much it really hurt.”
-Goo Hara
<— KARA’s Happy Hour, written by all the members to honor Hara’s wish of them all having a drink together.
Main dancer of ASTRO, an actor since childhood in Boys Over Flowers and Moment At Eighteen, and also a regular cast member on SNL Korea. Writer of several songs of ASTRO’s and brother of Billlie’s Moon Sua.
“Usually you think of surviving on your own. But we helped each other out when someone screwed up…we each have five shoulders to cry on.”
-Moonbin, live in 2018
<— Seventeen’s Yawn, written by Woozi for Seungkwan, Moonbin’s best friend.
감사합니다 (Thank You)
“At the brink of death, thoughts of my loved ones, children, family, and friends who cherished me came to mind. I realized that I want to live because I won’t be able to see them again. I fought desperately like a demon and regained consciousness. I will show how tough a protective mother can be. Though many have wished for my death, look, I survived.”
-Lee Areum, former member of T-ara, on her suicide attempt and subsequent recovery.
