New Delhi: S Korean actor Lee Sun Kyun was lastly laid to relaxation in a personal funeral ceremony in Seoul. The 48-year-old actor died by obvious suicide on the morning of 27 December. He was discovered unconscious in a carpark and died attributable to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Parasite actor had been underneath investigation over allegations of unlawful drug consumption since October. The actor had denied taking medicine(marijuana is unlawful in S Korea and there are extreme penalties for consumption of the identical) and had even knowledgeable the police he was being blackmailed by a lady, a hostess at a high-end bar who had exported cash near USD 300,000 from him.
Through October and November, the actor was underneath large media scrutiny because the case made headlines and there was no escaping the general public glare. Even although his drug checks had returned unfavorable and had inconclusive outcomes, the case took a toll on his skilled life and he pulled out of the movie “No Way Out” during which he had a starring position as nicely.
On Christmas Eve, the actor underwent 19 hours of investigation, he had even requested {that a} lie detector check be given to each himself and his accuser (who mentioned she witnessed his drug use in her residence).
On the morning of Dec 27 after his spouse actress Jeon Hye-jin alarmed at discovering a notice which gave the impression to be a suicide notice, alerted the police, who discovered him unresponsive within the automobile, it was too late for him. On 28 December the police arrested a lady in her mid 20’s, a hostess at a high-end bar in Seoul, who had been accused of blackmailing the actor and extorting cash. The query is, why was she not arrested earlier?
As followers internationally digested the information and shared their grief over his tragic demise, it as soon as once more delivered to the fore S Korea’s cancel tradition, and the distressing fee of superstar suicides, reigniting conversations on the psychological well-being of celebrities and public figures within the nation.
The hyper-competitive world of showbiz and the strict ethical codes imposed by Koreans on their celebrities, who’re seen to epitomise perfection in each space of their life is a double-edged sword. The burden of being excellent and pleasing everybody can take its toll on anybody, and in case you are a public determine you might have opened your self to judgment 24/7. Even Lee Sun Kyun’s request to not make the investigation public was not adhered to.
There isn’t any escaping the highlight, Okay pop artists typically see themselves certain underneath strict administration legal guidelines and contracts which even embrace clauses corresponding to no relationship, and have their lives consistently monitored by the general public. Offence interprets as shaming, abuse and bullying, particularly on social media.
In 2017 Okay Okay-pop star Jonghyun took his personal life at age 27. In 2019 Okay-pop singer Sulli was discovered lifeless at age 25, she had been topic to intense cyberbullying. The similar yr Goo Hara one other Okay-pop singer ended her life, it was revealed she was affected by despair.
S Korea has the best fee of suicide on the earth and is considered the fourth largest explanation for loss of life as per studies in 2012, the ratio having elevated in 2020. 26 out of 100,000 individuals within the nation are more likely to take their very own life.
It is a well known incontrovertible fact that celebrities can’t entry psychological well being professionals attributable to worry of public disgrace, in addition to punishing schedules hardly give them time,
In current years many artists and actors have spoken about psychological well being and have tried to normalise in search of assist, as psychological well being turns into a critical disaster within the nation. Agencies have began taking a robust stand towards malicious rumours being circulated towards artists.
Back residence in India, celebrities have referred to as out the rampant toxicity and negativity they discover themselves topic to, from clickbait and faux headlines to bullying and abuse.
Maybe it’s time for the general public at giant together with followers and media for deep introspection and regard celebrities as people and never mere merchandise who’re judged, slammed and thrown round.
