Singer Wheesung passed away on the 10th at the age of 43. Wheesung was found collapsed in his home in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, around 6:29 PM on the 10th. He had returned from China the previous day and was scheduled to meet with his manager. However, when contact was not made, his mother, who lives in the same building, visited and found him, promptly calling for help. Emergency responders arrived and performed first aid, but he was ultimately pronounced dead.
The police found no signs of forced entry and are investigating the possibility of a will and the exact cause of death, suspecting no major criminal activity.
Tajo Entertainment, his agency, expressed their sorrow, stating that Wheesung’s sudden death has left his family, colleagues, and fans devastated. They asked for fans to pray for his repose.
The entertainment industry was also shocked by Wheesung’s unexpected death. A joint concert with KCM, which was planned for March 15, has been canceled. Wheesung had recently expressed his excitement for the concert through social media, which turned out to be his final message.
Many in the music industry shared their condolences. Rapper Changmo thanked Wheesung for his influential music, and rapper Paloalto reminisced about attending his concerts. Yoon Min-soo shared a duet performance they did together, expressing his wish for Wheesung to find peace and continue singing in the afterlife. Other artists like Jo Kwon and Verbal Jint also paid their respects.
Wheesung debuted in 2002 with his album “Like A Movie,” quickly rising to stardom with hits like “Can’t We.” He established himself as a leading R&B artist with a string of successful songs and was also recognized for his songwriting and producing skills, contributing to hits for artists like Younha, T-ara, and Lee Hyori.
However, Wheesung struggled with drug issues and severe mental health problems. He was charged with using propofol multiple times between September and November 2019 and received a one-year prison term with a two-year probation. In 2020, he was found collapsed after injecting the sedative etomidate.
In recent years, Wheesung spoke about the intense mental anguish he was experiencing, expressing distress over doubts about his mental health struggles.
If you are experiencing depression or have concerns about someone who might be, you can contact a suicide prevention hotline at 109 or reach out to counseling services like Madeline for 24-hour support.