The memorial photograph of the late Hwisung, who passed away tragically, has been released. On the 14th, the family of the deceased unveiled an image capturing Hwisung’s bright smile. They stated, “We intentionally did not alter the light part on the right, as his brother wanted to keep the original, capturing Hwisung happily smiling and singing in the light.”
Hwisung’s memorial hall was set up at Room 17 of the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul on March 14th, four days after his passing. The hall is receiving condolence wreaths from fellow singers such as Baek Ji-young, Jung Joon-il, and Babylon, along with a banner honoring the deceased.
The funeral will take place on the 16th, with the burial at Gwangneung Memorial Park. Hwisung was found collapsed at his home in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, around 6:29 PM on March 10th, causing much shock. Police found no signs of intrusion or criminal activity but have requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service to clarify the cause of death. Initial reports mentioned a syringe was found nearby, and the preliminary autopsy result declared “unknown cause of death,” with detailed inspection results expected to take about two more weeks.
The family initially planned to hold a private funeral with family, relatives, and close acquaintances only but decided to arrange a memorial to receive visitors. The agency commented, “The funeral was intended to be a quiet family affair due to the mother’s health concerns, but after careful consideration, the family decided to provide a space for those who remember and loved Hwisung to pay their respects.”
Hwisung’s younger brother expressed, “Our family was overwhelmed with grief, and considering our mother’s health, who loved our brother the most, we initially decided on a private funeral. However, we thought it respectful to provide a time and place for many who cherished the singer Hwisung and the person Choi Hwisung.”
He continued, “Our brother was often accompanied by a deep loneliness that couldn’t be comforted by others, but he fiercely lived through music and singing, soothing and sublimating those feelings. We would be grateful if anyone who knew him or has happy memories through his music visits the memorial to ensure he does not depart alone.”
Hwisung debuted in 2002 with his first album “Like A Movie,” producing many hit songs such as “Can’t We,” “An Untold Story,” “With Me,” “Incurable Disease,” “In One Year,” “Love is Delicious,” “Insomnia,” and “I Thought of Marriage,” among others.
However, in 2019, Hwisung was charged with purchasing propofol 12 times and administering it over ten times in hotels, receiving a suspended sentence of one year in prison and two years of probation, which led to the temporary halt of his entertainment activities. He resumed some activities from December that year, focusing on concerts and songwriting, and later released drama OSTs, reappearing before the public.