Actress Song Yoo-Jung has tragically died aged just twenty-six.
Her heartbreaking death highlights a growing problem in Korea... Here's the full story.
The star's death has well and truly shook the showbiz industry in Korea.
Thousands have paid tribute to the actress on her last Instagram post...
Omggg.... all my condolences to her family and her friends 😭💜 rest in peace, Yoo-Jung 💔🤍
— 𝑴𝑰𝑲𝑰 !! ༄ | ℒ.𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑠 / / 𝐷𝐴𝑌 𖦹 (@Malys27559713) January 25, 2021
Sending prayers and condolences to Song Yoo-jung’s family. Rest in Peace, love.
— Chelsy💜 #2021_SHINEE’SBACK 🦊 #SHAWOL (@The0nlyChelly) January 25, 2021
Rest in paradise, Song Yoo-jung 🙏
— 𝒱𝓊𝓁𝓃𝑒𝓇𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒜𝓊𝒷𝓇𝑒𝓎 #MNL48 (@bluestraubrey) January 25, 2021
Rip #SongYooJung ..it hurts to hear people dying at such a young age😰😰 pic.twitter.com/2HDpvLUmCl
— Choi Da In (@ChoiDaIn19) January 25, 2021
Yoo-Jung made her name with a starring role in the TV drama Make A Wish as well as working with cosmetics company Estee Lauder and well-known ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins.
Rest In Peace, Song Yoo-Jung. pic.twitter.com/w5Olw3VHlD
— kdrama details (@kdramadetails_) January 26, 2021
Her death raises concerns about Korea's television and K-Pop culture, where young women and men are thrown into the limelight and scrutinized daily.
The twenty-six-year-old South Korean actress was found dead in Seoul.
Korean actress Song Yoo-jung passes away. She was 26#SongYooJung pic.twitter.com/aE3SSnbLhC
— Kdrama Feels (@AllAboutKorean7) January 25, 2021
Sadly, the country's controversial show-business industry has seen this happen far too often.
"Actress Song Yoo-Jung has left us," Yoo-Jung's agency Sublime said.
Rest in peace my fav actress, Yoo Jung unnie.
— MarkMeInYourHeart 🍉 || AU 📌 (@kentutmark) January 25, 2021
May you rest in peace and condolences to her family.#SongYooJung pic.twitter.com/o5Wy0NDofL
"Yoo-Jung was a friend who always gave us happiness with a bright smile and an awesome actress who acted with a passion bigger than anyone."
There was an outpouring of grief from fans on her last Instagram post...
Song Yoo-jung was a South Korean actress and model. Song made her acting debut in the MBC's series Golden Rainbow. She gained viewers' attention for her performance in the same cable channel series Make a Wish.
— 🍂parish (@hams_gray) January 25, 2021
May you Rest In Peace 😔#SongYooJung pic.twitter.com/4OYdm00Sgl
Where she could be seen smiling at the camera, just 3 weeks ago.
Many Korean stars face immense pressure to look and behave perfectly in the industry...
REST IN PEACE Song Yoo-jung unni😭😭😭 WE WILL MIS YOU😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/OeJGa4oQw0
— ✨𝙺𝚒𝚖 𝚂𝚊𝚒𝚔𝚒✨ (@kim_VJK7) January 25, 2021
As fame is powered by toxic fandoms that can easily turn on the stars if they step a foot out of place.
Suicide is a chronic social problem in Korea and according to government data, it is the leading cause of death for people aged between 10 and thirty-nine.
More than 13,700 people took their own lives last year in South Korea, which is further proof that more needs to be done to prevent this toxic culture from spreading.
Rest in peace.
As we all know, times have been tough this past year, if you or anyone you know needs help, contact samaritansusa.org