In August, the entertainment industry was filled with sorrow due to consecutive sad news.
According to Brand New Music, the agency of the group As One, member Lee Min passed away at her home on the 5th. Her husband discovered her first upon returning home and reported it, and an investigation is currently underway by the police.
Lee Min had been actively working until recently, which adds to the tragedy. She released a single titled 'Happy Birthday' in June and appeared on KBS2's music entertainment show 'Park Bo-gum's Cantabile.' At that time, she made a surprise appearance as a featured artist on the stage of a new song by Moon Se-yoon and Hanhae.
In 2019, she appeared on JTBC's music entertainment program 'Sugar Man,' recalling many memories for viewers. The following year, she made a surprise announcement of a single titled 'Effort' to celebrate her 20th debut anniversary, resuming her music activities. Additionally, in 2022, she appeared as a judge on MBC's entertainment program 'King of Mask Singer,' showing her face.
Although her activities were not extremely vigorous, her occasional appearances evoked nostalgia, making her absence feel particularly bitter.
The deceased's mortuary has not been set up, and the funeral procedures are expected to take place depending on the police investigation.
The day the news of Lee Min's passing was reported was also the day of the funeral for actor Late Song Young-kyu, who passed away on the 4th.
Late Song Young-kyu was found dead in a vehicle in a residential area in Cheoin-gu, Yongin, on the 4th. The police, who were dispatched after receiving a report from a witness, controlled the scene and conducted an investigation, recovering and examining the body. It was reported that no signs of foul play were found on the body.
Fellow actor Lee Jong-hyuk expressed his sorrow over the news, saying, "It's so tragic. Did you hate the world that much? I'm disappointed because you were weak. I really didn't know you would do this." Actor Jang Hyuk-jin also expressed his condolences, saying, "Hyung must have been very tired, scared, and worried. I should have at least called you. You were such a good person to me. Let's meet again later."
Previously, Late Song Young-kyu was under investigation for allegedly driving under the influence from Giheung-gu to Cheoin-gu, a distance of about 5 km, around 11 PM on the 19th of last month. As a result, he was edited out of most of his appearances in the dramas 'I Shopping' and 'Try: We Become Miracles,' except for minimal footage. He also left the play 'Shakespeare in Love' after the 25th.
Musician Kang Lin (Kang In-goo), formerly of the group E.O.S, has also passed away. According to industry sources on the 3rd, Kang Lin was found dead in a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 31st of last month. There are no indications of foul play. He was 58 years old.
Kang Lin debuted in 1993 as part of the trio E.O.S with Kim Hyung-jung and Ko Seok-young. He was responsible for keyboards and production. His representative songs include 'You're Not Someone Else' and 'Dream, Fantasy, and Illusion.'
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
