On Oct. 14, Korean pop artist, Sulli, passed away. She was found dead in her house in Seongnam, Korea the cause of death presumed to be suicide, according to the National Forensic Service. The sudden death of the 25-year-old sent a shockwave across the country. 

Debuting as a child actress in 2005, the artist joined the idol group, f(x), in 2009. The singer maintained a colorful and bright personality in all of her public appearances. She had been outspoken about ideas of feminism and sexuality, and was open to her fans on her struggles in the K-pop industry. Struggling with mental and physical exhaustion from the “continuous, malicious comments” that she had received online, according to her agency, SM Entertainment, Sulli went on a hiatus from f(x) in 2014. 

According to npr.org, Korea “had the highest rate of suicide of nations in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development as of 2016,” nearing 25,000 people. Two of the major causes include cyberbullying and poor mental health levels. Sulli’s death sparked the attention of the public regarding these topics.

Furthermore, according to a survey from the Ministry of Education in 2018, out of the 50,000 students in Korea who have been affected by school violence, 10.8% of the students had been a victim of cyberbullying, while the rate of physical violence stands at 10%. Cyberbullying made it difficult for teachers to take notice, but it has taken the lives of several middle-school and high-school students. 

“Young K-pop idols particularly don’t eat or sleep properly because of their tight schedules, yet they are asked to hide their emotions and smile and show positive attitudes for their fans in public,” stated Kim Dong-wan, a member of Shinhwa, another popular K-pop group. Apart from their inhumanely long working hours, the artists have to deal with the harsh, cruel comments sent from anonymous internet users, which often lead to anxiety disorders.

Arguably the biggest case of suicide in the K-pop industry was the death of the SHINee member, Jonghyun, two years ago due to the extreme pressures of fame and depression. Both Sulli and Jonghyun were under the same agency and were close friends.

“Social phobia, panic disorder…. I’ve had panic disorder ever since I was young… There were times when close people… Some of my closest friends have left me. People hurt me, so everything fell apart. I didn’t feel like I had anyone on my side or anyone who could understand me. So that’s why I completely fell apart,” said Sulli before her passing.

Fans all over the world are furious with entertainment agencies for their insensitivity to artists’ mental health. In response, legislators in Korea have proposed to pass the Sulli Act, which will require identification information before one can comment online and punish those who spread false rumors or invade artists’ privacy. The bill is supported by members of the Korea National Assembly, as well as 200 celebrities who have experienced similar abuse. As of Oct. 16, over 11,000 people have signed the petition. 

Lawmakers hope this act will remind companies and members of society that artists are also humans. They also hope by decreasing the amount of cyberbullying, the chances of people being diagnosed with mental health disorders will also decrease, eventually bringing down the suicidal rate in Korea.

Photo courtesy of BBC.COM