S. Korean singer Choi Sung-bong dies of apparent suicide at 33
By Ana Yoo
South Korean singer Choi Sung-bong has died at the age of 33.
What happened: Choi, a pop-opera singer known for his runner-up appearance on “Korea’s Got Talent” in 2011, was found dead by police in his home at 9:41 am on Tuesday, according to reports.
Investigation into his death: Police said on Wednesday that it appeared Choi had killed himself “considering the circumstances at his home.”
The day before his death, Choi notably uploaded a community message to his YouTube channel. “I’m writing this as the last message of my life to my fans and if you are seeing this I will already be dead,” he wrote.
He continued by thanking fans for their support over the years and added, “I sincerely apologize to all those who suffered from my foolish mistakes. Over the past two years, I have returned all the donations to those who have asked, and now I want to pay for my sins with my life.”
Choi signed the message with the date June 17, but the message was not uploaded to his channel until Tuesday.
Police and emergency responders reportedly arrived at the scene after receiving a report about Choi’s YouTube note and potential suicide.
Past controversy: Choi falsely claimed in 2020 that he was suffering from stage 3 colon cancer, thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism and subsequently raised donations from fans to help with his treatments.
After suspicions arose concerning the veracity of his claims in October 2021, he later confessed to his wrongdoings. He released an official statement apologizing to fans and claimed that he had depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. At the time, Choi claimed to be working at a restaurant after leaving his music career behind.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. For a list of international suicide hotlines, click here.
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