The Korean entertainment industry mourned the death of several celebrities this year. In Google’s top trending searches in the Philippines for 2020, Korean actresses Go Soo-jung and Oh In-hye, and actor Park Ji-hoon were included in the top 10 for searches on losses.
Here are the Korean celebrities who passed away in 2020:
Korean actress Go Soo-jung (Died: Feb. 7, 2020)
Korean actress Go Soo-jung passed away in February 2020 at age 25. Her agency Story J Company announced her death on Feb. 11. The exact date of her death was not announced but her funeral ceremony was held on Feb. 9 so it was assumed that she died on Feb. 7 following the three-day mourning tradition in Korea. Go Soo-jung appeared in the drama “Goblin” and in a Seoul promotional music video “With Seoul by BTS” by BTS. Korean media reported that she had a brain tumor.
Actor Moon Ji-yoon (Died: March 18, 2020)
Korean actor Moon Ji-yoon, 36, died on March 18 due to sepsis or blood poisoning caused by bacteria. Moon was born on Feb. 18, 1984 and debuted as an actor in the drama “Romance” in 2002. He appeared in dramas and films including “Sassy Girl Chun-hyang,” “ Il Ji-Mae,” “Queen Seondeok,” “May Queen,” “Cheese in the Trap,” “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo,” “The Sound of Your Heart,” “The Merciless” and “Whatcha Wearin’?”
Actor Park Ji-hoon (Died: May 11, 2020)
Korean actor and model Park Ji-hoon passed away due to stomach cancer on May 11 at age 31. He was born on April 19, 1989 and studied at the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment of Indeok University in South Korea. He appeared in the 2017 drama “Chicago Typewriter” starring Yoo Ah-in, Go Kyung-pyo and Im Soo-jung.
K-pop boy band TST’s Yohan (Died: June 16, 2020)
K-pop idol group TST (formerly Top Secret) member Yohan died on June 16 at age 28. He was born in 1992 and made his debut in Top Secret in January 2017 with the album “Time’s Up.” The group’s name was changed to TST in 2018 and made their comeback last January with the single album “Countdown” as a four-member group composed of Yohan, Ain, Junghoon and Yonghyeon.
Actress Oh In-hye (Died: Sept. 14, 2020)
Korean actress Oh In-hye, 36, died on Sept. 14. She attempted suicide and was found unconscious at her home in Incheon City, South Korea. She was brought to a hospital and died of cardiac arrest. She made her acting debut in the movie “Sin of the Family” in 2011. The same year, she caused a sensation at the opening ceremony of the 16th Busan International Film Festival when she wore a revealing orange dress. Her movie “Red Vacance Black Wedding” was screened at the festival. Her other acting credits include “No Breathing” in 2013 and “The Plan” in 2014.
Comedian Park Ji-sun (Died: Nov. 2, 2020)
Comedian Park Ji-sun, 35, and her mother died of apparent suicide on Nov. 2 at their home in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Her father called the police after he could not reach them by phone. She suffered from allergy to sunlight and makeup and the Seoul Mapo Police found a note left by the mother, which stated that she could not let her daughter suffer alone. She made her debut as a comedian in 2017 and became a mainstay of the comedy TV program “Gag Concert.” Before her death, she worked as an emcee including at the production showcase of Red Velvet members Irene and Seulgi’s “Level Up Thrilling Project” in July. She also appeared in TV shows such as “Infinite Challenge,” “Yoo Quiz on the Block” and “King of Mask Singer.” Park Ji-sun She won the female rookie, excellence and grand prize in comedy at the KBS Entertainment Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Film director Kim Ki-duk (Died: Dec. 11, 2020)
Controversial Korean film director Kim Ki-duk died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) complications in Latvia on Dec. 11 at age 59. He arrived in the Baltic country on Nov. 20 to buy a house in Jurmala City and apply for a residence permit. However, he did not show up for a meeting. His death was confirmed by colleagues and his family. Kim Ki-duk won the Golden Lion for his film “Pieta’ at the 69th Venice Film Festival in 2012; Silver Lion for “3-Lion” at the 61st Venice Film Festival in 2004; Silver Bear for “Samaritan Girl” at the 54th Berlin International Film Festival in 2004; and Un Certain Regard Prize for “Arirang” at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. In 2017, an actress accused the director of hitting her and forcing her to film a sex scene for the movie “Moebius” that was released in 2013. In 2018, Kim Ki-duk was accused of sexually assaulting actresses.