YeinJee's Asian blog

Asian Culture, Lifestyle and Entertainment

Obituaries

Obituary archives - Tributes, in memories of some good people and tragic deaths

Former SG Wannabe member suicide

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Former SG Wannabe member Chae Dong-haFormer SG Wannabe member Chae Dong-ha, 29, was found dead on Friday morning, presumed to have committed suicide according to early investigation.

The news came as another shock for the Koreans – just a few days after the suicide-death of a TV announcer.

SG Wannabe was one of Korea’s most popular pop groups before Chae decided to part way to pursue his solo career in 2008. The reformed SG Wannabe ain’t as popular as it used to be; and Chae’s solo plan was hardly a success unfortunately.

The exact reason for his suicide is still unknown. It’s revealed (by his agent) that he had a depression record when he was still in SG Wannabe. Regardless, RIP.

Taiwanese composer Chen Chi-Yuan passed away

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Taiwanese composer Chen Chi-Yuan (陈志远) passed away on March 16 at age 61 after battling with cancer for seven years. The legendary musician had thousand of works under his name, including many classics in the 80s and 90s.

I’ve embedded some of his famous pieces below. He will be missed, RIP.

Sandy Lam – Home Again Without You (爱上一个不回家的人, 1991)

[Read more…] about Taiwanese composer Chen Chi-Yuan passed away

Chinese singer dies in plastic surgery

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Chinese singer dies in plastic surgeryThe news of a fatal plastic surgery in China has caught public attention recently. 24-year-old Wang Bei, known for her participation in a popular singing contest a few years ago, died in a supposedly routine facial surgery procedure on November 15.

It’s reported that the surgeon accidentally cut a vessel near her jaw, and blood got into her respiratory system, which resulted in suffocation. Not sure if the case is under investigation or not; early reports suggested that Wang’s family might not want to make this into a legal issue.

The news caused plenty of debates on the necessity/safety of plastic surgery and social discrimination/expectation etc. Bottom line is, there’s always risk when a person is going under the knife; and some of the procedures might not be as safe as what some plastic surgeons are claiming.

Regardless, the news will be forgotten after a short period of time. Plastic surgery has became a trend these days, and China is one of the fastest booming markets for the industry… a couple of deaths won’t stop the public urge to become prettier by artificial means. Kinda sad actually. Rest in peace, Wang Bei.

Korean fashion designer Andre Kim passes away

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Korean fashion designer Andre KimKorean fashion designer Andre Kim has died on Thursday due to pneumonia and colon cancer. He was 74.

Kim was a pop culture icon in Korea. He’s the first prominent male designer in the country, and he was the first Korean designer to hold a fashion show in Paris.

He was famed for designing evening gowns and wedding dresses. He had worked with numerous top Korean stars for his shows and was a highly respected public figure.

His personal fashion and style were as weird as it could be though. Ironic, but iconic nonetheless. Rest in peace Mr Kim.

Korean actor Park Yong-ha commits suicide

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Korean actor-singer Park Yong-haKorean actor-singer Park Yong-ha was found dead at his home in Seoul early Wednesday morning in what appeared to be a suicide. He was 33.

No suicide note was found. His family and friends said that Park had been severely distressed by his father’s disease (terminally ill with stomach cancer), but the exact reason would probably remain a mystery forever.

Park rose to international fame in 2002 with K-drama Winter Sonata. He launched his singing career in Japan soon after and still enjoy reasonably popularity there. His acting career had its ups and downs; his last major success came in 2008 in drama On Air. He was still pretty much in demand though; thus his suicide news has shocked many fans in and out of Korea.

South Korea has the highest suicide rate among developed countries. Among the high profile casualties were actress Lee Eun-joo (2005), Choi Jin-shil (2008), her brother Choi Jin-young (2010), and former President Roh Moo-hyun (2009) etc.

Rest in peace Yong-ha.

Choi Jin-shil’s brother Choi Jin-young commits suicide

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Korean actor Choi Jin-youngKorean actor Choi Jin-young, 39, was found dead on March 29 in an apparent suicide. Her actress-sister, Choi Jin-shil, also committed suicide in October 2008.

I’m feeling terribly sorry for the mother who lost two kids to the tragic cause in such short span, and I’m also sad for the two children of Choi Jin-shil who were taken care of by their uncle after their mother’s death.

It’s revealed that Choi Jin-young had been battling depression and sunk into a prolonged spell following his sister’s death [via Dramabeans].

While strongly against suicide, I’m understanding a bit more about depression these days, and it’s something that need to be dealt with seriously. The Korean society need to be more alert on the issue, take active steps to help those who are depressed, and fight against the high suicide rates.

Rest in peace Choi Jin-young. Condolences to his family and friends.