Korean actor Song Jae-Rim passes away in apparent suicide

SEOUL: South Korean actor Song Jae-Rim was found dead in his apartment in Seoul.

The actor was aged 39 at the time of passing.  

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According to reports, a friend discovered his unresponsive body on Monday during a lunch visit.

Law enforcement authorities reported no sign of foul play, but stated they were still investigating the cause of death.

The police also found a two-page apparent suicide note at the crime scene.

Song Jae-Rim began his career as a model before making his acting debut in the 2009 movie “Actress’.

However, he gained widespread fame for his role in the 2012 historical drama, “The Moon Embracing the Sun”.

He later starred in other several high profile dramas, including “Two Weeks”. “Out Gap-soon”, and “Queen Woo”.

Tributes poured in from fans and colleagues about the sudden loss of Song. Many fans reminisced about his time on the reality show “We Got Married”, where he was paired with actress, Kim So Eun.

They also highlighted his appearance in music videos for famous girl groups, 2NEI and KARA. T

Song Jae-Rim’s death adds to a troubling trend in the South Korean entertainment industry, where the pressures of fame and alleged sexual abuse of young, aspiring artists led to several high-profile  suicides.

Haesoo and Astro member Moon Bin’s deaths raised concerns about the mental health of entertainers, driven to work non-stop without breaks for years.

The idols also enter training at a very young age, mostly recruited as trainees while barely entering their teenage years. Super Junior’s Han Geng was one of first to bring the slavery-like working conditions to light.

Han filed for contract termination from his company, SM Entertainment. He exposed the unfair structure and practices within the industry, with heavily skewed profit distribution between the company and an artist.

In a disclosure that shocked many, Han Geng revealed that his company denied him a single day off in over two years. The singer reportedly developed gastritis and kidney issues due to prolonged working hours.

Read more: K-Pop singer issues handwritten apology to fans following intense backlash

Critics have long advocated to reign in the industry’s lack of support for its artists, especially at the vulnerable age when they enter contracts.