Four celebs’ suicides in a month spark concern over South Korea’s suicide rate

Four celebs’ suicides in a month spark concern over South Korea’s suicide rate
Oct 9, 2008 22:01
LEONARDO Points: Join Date: May 21, 2007 Status: offline	October seems to be a “Month of Death” for South Korean celebrities. Three film stars have killed themselves in October. The Korean beloved actress Choi Jin-Sil committed suicide on October 2nd. Jang Chae-won, 26, hung herself in the bathroom of her home in Seoul on October 3rd. On October 6th, the 23-year-old South Korean model/actor Kim Ji-who ended his life. On September 8, another entertainer Ahn Jae-hwan took his own life. In just one month, four celebs committed suicides. What contributed to their deaths is worth reflecting upon. One common ground for the four celebs’ deaths is they fell into depression before their ultimate choice of death. Externally, their lives look how perfect in other people’s eyes. However, how lonely they are indeed in their inner hearts. See the note at the scene of Kim Ji’s death: "I'm lonely and in a difficult situation. Please cremate my body." It seems that there is a false belief among celebs that “you have to maintain an image of success in order to be successful”. It is this belief that leads them astray. Additionally, celebs face overwhelming pressure from the general public. Many internet users take advantage of online anoynimity to send malicious textmessages to celebs accusing them of sex scandal or plastic surgery. For instance, both Choi Jin-Sil and Kim Ji-who received a number of hate messages on their websites. In recent years, South Korea’s suicide rate has been alarming. Celebs’ suicide rate is mounting. Actress Jeong Da-Bin and pop singer Yuni, two high-profile young women with successful careers, were both found hanged in February 2007. More than worse, Koreans admire idols in a frantic manner. Celebs’ suicides could trigger a wave of copycat deaths. Korea is reported to be one of the countries with the highest suicide rate. Why do celebs kill themselves despite that they have successful careers, reputation, money and status? What do you think?

Oct 9, 2008 22:01

LEONARDO
Points:
Join Date: May 21, 2007
Status: offline

October seems to be a “Month of Death” for South Korean celebrities. Three film stars have killed themselves in October.
The Korean beloved actress Choi Jin-Sil committed suicide on October 2nd. Jang Chae-won, 26, hung herself in the bathroom of her home in Seoul on October 3rd. On October 6th, the 23-year-old South Korean model/actor Kim Ji-who ended his life. On September 8, another entertainer Ahn Jae-hwan took his own life. In just one month, four celebs committed suicides. What contributed to their deaths is worth reflecting upon.

One common ground for the four celebs’ deaths is they fell into depression before their ultimate choice of death. Externally, their lives look how perfect in other people’s eyes. However, how lonely they are indeed in their inner hearts. See the note at the scene of Kim Ji’s death: "I'm lonely and in a difficult situation. Please cremate my body." It seems that there is a false belief among celebs that “you have to maintain an image of success in order to be successful”. It is this belief that leads them astray.

Additionally, celebs face overwhelming pressure from the general public. Many internet users take advantage of online anoynimity to send malicious textmessages to celebs accusing them of sex scandal or plastic surgery. For instance, both Choi Jin-Sil and Kim Ji-who received a number of hate messages on their websites.

In recent years, South Korea’s suicide rate has been alarming. Celebs’ suicide rate is mounting. Actress Jeong Da-Bin and pop singer Yuni, two high-profile young women with successful careers, were both found hanged in February 2007. More than worse, Koreans admire idols in a frantic manner. Celebs’ suicides could trigger a wave of copycat deaths.

Korea is reported to be one of the countries with the highest suicide rate. Why do celebs kill themselves despite that they have successful careers, reputation, money and status? What do you think?

Oct 9, 2008 22:08	#1
LEONARDO Points: Join Date: May 21, 2007 Status: Offline	Korean movie star Choi Jin-Sil, dubbed as "The Nation's Actress," was one of South Korea's most beloved stars for the past 20 years. She ended her life in October 2, 2008. Her most recent work was in the pop TV show "The Last Scandal of My Life."

Oct 9, 2008 22:25	#2
LEONARDO Points: Join Date: May 21, 2007 Status: Offline	Copycat suicide: Transgender entertainer, Jang Chae-won committed suicide on October 3rd.

Oct 9, 2008 22:30	#3
LEONARDO Points: Join Date: May 21, 2007 Status: Offline	Latest death: Kim Ji-who recently admitted that he was gay. He took his own life on October 6th.

Oct 10, 2008 04:54	#4
GUESTBLUE	Kim Ji-who had the gut to admit being gay himself. Why didn't he had the courage to face his fans?

Oct 10, 2008 21:02

GLOOMYSUNDAY
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Join Date: Jul 23, 2008
Status: Offline

Choi Jin Sil' family members said to the reporters that Choi was despondent over the widespread rumors that she caused the suicide of Ahn Jae-hwan last month. She pressured thee follow actor Ahn to repay a loan to her.

//More than worse, Koreans admire idols in a frantic manner. Celebs’ suicides could trigger a wave of copycat deaths. //

Your observation is to the point. A wave of copycat suicides ever hit South Korea in the month after 24-year-old film star Lee Eun-Joo committed suicide in March 2005. South Korean youths' had an empty spiritual life. After the death of singer Yuni, numerous youngsters said they were thinking about committing suicide becaue they thought even someone as beautiful as Yuni could not stand the reality and committed suicide, according to an opinion poll.
Korea has a very high suicide rate: 38 people a day killed themselves on average.

Oct 11, 2008 21:32	#6
SHESGOTTOBE Points: Join Date: Nov 23, 2007 Status: Offline	South Koreans in general are very critical of others when it comes to success and looks. Also, many people (not just Koreans) look down on homosexuals, which in turn trigger the suicides.

Oct 13, 2008 22:12	#7
JOHNNY512 Points: Join Date: Nov 29, 2004 Status: Offline	She, South Koreans are not only critical of others's looks but their own looks. South Korean pop culture makes a number of its nationals become very shallow.

Oct 14, 2008 22:42	#8
ICEBLUE Points: Join Date: Aug 30, 2007 Status: Offline	Copycat deaths? Really? South Korea has advanced face-lifting surgery. They are still unsatisfied with their looks. They can go under knife to become what they want to become.

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