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Actress Kim Sae-ron’s death in an apparent suicide has renewed criticism of South Korea’s entertainment industry, which churns out stars but also subjects them to immense pressure and scrutiny.
Kim - who was found dead aged 24 at her home in Seoul on Sunday - had been bombarded with negative press coverage and hate online after a drink-driving conviction in 2022. Police have not provided further details about her death.
Experts found the circumstances leading to it depressingly familiar. Other celebrities also ended up taking their lives after careers upended by cyberbullying.
As Kim was laid to rest on Wednesday, analysts say they are not optimistic her death will lead to meaningful change.
Anybody who even remotely knows about Korean pop-idol culture should’ve already figured this out by now. My teenage daughter is super into kpop. It wasn’t hard to figure out.
Similar issue in Japan, Taiwan, China, and more. I remember reading about an idol fanbase going ballistic when their favourite weather girl got a boyfriend.
The whole idol industry is incredibly toxic. It turns parasocialization into a ruthlessly monetized business.
Perfect Blue gave a great insight into the kinds of creeps that pour money into this industry.
I think we made a wrong turn when we stopped thinking less of grown men who are obsessed with drawings of little girls.