Korean actress Choi Jin-shil was found dead in her home in Seocho, Seoul, early this morning (Oct 2). The 40-year-old star hung herself in her bathroom; her body was discovered by her mother at around 6.15am.
The police didn’t rule out foul-play initially because no suicide note was found, but it was later discovered that Choi did text a message around midnight to her close friend asking to take care of her two children if something bad happened… which hinted that it’s an apparent suicide [more on Coolsmurf]
Choi Jin-shil was one of Korea’s most popular actress in the 90s and was making a successful comeback in recent years. She made her acting debut in 1988 and starred in ~30 movies and dramas, including the popular “Wish Upon a Star” in 1997 which made her well known in other Asian countries as well.
Choi married professional baseball player Cho Sung-min in December 2000 and went into temporarily hiatus. The marriage didn’t last long though, and was officially ended in 2004 following an ugly and lengthy legal battle in which she won the custody of her two children (7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter as of 2008).
Choi made her acting comeback in 2004/2005 with high rating dramas “War of the Roses” and “My Rosy Life”. Her last film was “My Last Scandal” in early 2008, which was also highly rated with a sequel already in planning.
Despite her successful career revival, Choi’s mother told the cops that the actress had been suffering depression since her divorce and was under medication. It’s believe that the recent rumours of her involvement in actor Ahn Jae-hwan’s suicide death had probably triggered her own suicide.
Choi was rumoured to have loaned a large sum to Ahn and pressured him to return the money when his business failed. Choi had denied the rumours, claiming that it was totally baseless and filed a police report; a suspect was arrested a few days ago while the case is still under investigation.
I am strongly against taking our own life regardless of the difficulties; but when it comes to Koreans, I am dumbfounded… I just can’t understand what is going on with the nation; suicide has become an apparent trend in the society… and unfortunately it’s the family members that are going to suffer the most and not the deceased.
My condolences to her family. Rest in peace Choi Jin-shil.
How many suicides, this year, among Korean stars? So sad.
Wow, it’s getting to be an epidemic over there.
I wonder if the Korean stars themselves are starting to notice a pattern among their own? If so, I wonder if they are saying to themselves, “who’s next among us”? You know the Korean public must be wondering what the heck is going on.
Sad.
i couldn’t agree more…
RIP
Korea is ranked 8th highest in suicide rates world wide. US is ranked 45th. That should give you an idea of how grave the trend is….
Pretty amazing stats. Last recorded numbers in 2005 for South Korea was 8th place with 26% of the total population having commited suicide. Probably more than that now, considering the rise in reported high profile celebrity cases. Japan isn’t too far behind in 11th place with 24% of their population.
Incredible how the top 3 spots are all former Soviet states. Lithuania tops the list with a whopping 40% of the total population having commited suicide as of 2004. Belarus and Russia are at 2 & 3 respectively with about 34-35%.
Must be some pretty distressed people in that part of the world.
yah..i agree with u cole..here in the Philippines, committing suicide is against our religion’s law..Majority of our celebrities here never commit suicide if they have problem..Hope Korean celebrities won’t do this anymore..they are really cute and good looking..
Must be some different kinds of issues effecting these locations. While these Korean celebrities are dealing with pressures of fame etc in a country that for the most part has a stable and prosperous economy, I can only assume that people in places like the former soviet republics are facing alot of joblessness, poverty, and political issues etc. In the figures I saw for Lithuania, something like 70% of the total male population commit suicide. 70%…..that’s pretty astonishing. And those places aren’t exactly experiencing a booming pop scene like South Korea is.
Which brings up another point, haven’t most of the Korean celebrities commiting suicide been female?
There are male celebs who committed suicide as well… at least two that I’ve read of for the past year or two. Female celebs at least four in the past three years.
wooo.. not again…i feel sad for her children…it’s sad to lose a father thru a divorce…but it’s more painful to not see your mother anymore specially at such a young age…
since I am the same age with her, I feel like I’ve been grow old with her. I remember when she was brand new and saw all the drama she made on TV and her own personal life scandals. I just can’t stop crying for her as another women who went through a divorce and hard life also as a mother of children…….it is just too sad to discripe my feelings..whatever she did or whoever she was, I know this she didn’t have to die……
Hmmm, saw another site that gave some added details. I’m paraphrasing here but apparently, according to the Seoul police investigation, she had a heated argument over the phone the day before with a security employee named “Baek” who was being indicted for spreading rumors through an email about Choi Jin-shil lending money.
Choi Jin-shil had pressed authorities on Sept 22 for the punishment of “Baek” and a week later Baek was charged. Apparently Baek called Choi Jin-shil to plead for forgiveness but instead Choi got into a big argument with her. Afterwards the actress was so upset that she threw the phone down in anger and didn’t sleep all night.
Her agent met with her for dinner the next evening to take her out and try and console her but to no avail. She told her agent “This is too much for me to handle. It’s killing me,”. Evidently Choi had been drinking alot that night when the agent finally took her home at 11PM. She indicated on the way home that night that she wanted out of the entertainment business and “felt like dying”.
Later, phone records show that Choi Jin-shil sent a couple of text messages to a long time friend, then called a friend editor at a women’s magazine asking to please look after her kids, and that she was going to die.
Police are saying she made the decision to kill herself “on impulse” apparently because of her distress after the phone call. Choi Jin-shil been suffering from on going depression.
[...] Thursday (Oct 2) and will run until October 10. The opening ceremony of the event was marred by the suicide news of Choi Jin-shil that early morning, but the show must go [...]
I am very surprised at the recent suicides by several Korean celebrities. It’s a shame such talented people decide to end there problems and issues by taking there lives. I hope someone looks into the matter and provides counseling and information help curb the trend. I have lived in Korea now for several years interacting and learning the Korean cultural they are a very hospitable and friendly nation of people.
Respectfully
what makes me sad is she had no reason to take her life.
It is with great disappoint that I have learned this morning about the passing of one of Korea’s most famous actresses. It was at sometime in the 90’s that I first started following the actress and her career. She was an inspiration to most of the stars on Korean TV programs and in the movies. It is sad to say this, having never met the lady, but felt I knew her more than some of her friends. If you can call them friends? I remember the disappointment I felt for her at the time she was to get married and her now X-husband raised such a stink about her apparell. She was an angel among all of us, and maybe she has finally found her peace within the loving arms of GOD. She is at rest now, and we should all remember her for the things she gave each of us who knew her, either by her performance or personally. Choi, Jin Shil, you will be remembered, and I ask all of you to now let her rest. To all the other stars in Korea, I would like to say, CHANGE!!!!!!!!
“… and maybe she has finally found her peace within the loving arms of GOD.”
Sadly, no one can find peace in the loving arms of God after committing suicide.
[...] was found dead on October 6; he was the second entertainer who committed suicide following the death of actress Choi Jin-shil last week. Earlier on October 3, transsexual entertainer Jang Chae-won committed suicide ala Choi [...]