[INTERVIEW] What caused deaths of Sulli, Ha-ra and other K-pop stars?

K-pop singers Goo Ha-ra, left, and Sulli, two former idol stars and close friends, were recently found dead, with suicide being their most likely cause of death. Capture from Goo Ha-ra's Instagram

By Dong Sun-hwa

K-pop stars live a life of glitz and glamour. They are often adored and indulged by fans, sport fancy outfits and amass a fortune at an early age.

On the flipside of their high life and hidden from public view is another life dotted with bouts of depression, spells of desolation and periods of utter confusion. The recent deaths of two more young idols ― adding to the rising toll of performers ― have exposed this sickened underbelly of the flourishing K-pop establishment.

Goo Ha-ra, 28, a former member of the disbanded K-pop girl group KARA, was found dead at her home in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Sunday. Police have investigated the cause and found no signs of foul play. Goo's death came just 42 days after the passing of her singer friend Sulli, 25. The two were close. In 2017, Jonghyun of boy band SHINee died by suicide.

What is to blame for the premature deaths of these talented young entertainers?

"K-pop music labels should change"

Comedian-turned-psychologist Kwon Young-chan says a negative comment is like "influenza." Courtesy of Kwon Young-chan

Many speculate that online trolls' malicious comments triggered the deaths, saying Goo and Sulli had long been victims of cyber bullying due to rumors and scandals. But comedian-turned-psychologist Kwon Young-chan offers a different angle, zeroing in on the way Korean music labels cultivate the singers. He is the founder of a suicide prevention center for celebrities that opened in 2015.

"Negative comment is like 'influenza' rather than a root cause of the death," Kwon said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Some people are more resistant to influenza, while others are not. K-pop singers mostly fall into the latter category in consequence of their backdrop, so their agencies need a major overhaul of their system."

He added: "Legions of them, including Goo and Sulli, prematurely kick off their training at the companies when they are teenagers. The youngsters polish their musical prowess every day for years, being deprived of the opportunities to reflect on their lives, choose what they like and socialize with friends. They are nurtured to become 'elite' entertainers who should suppress themselves to aim for the best."

In fact, Korea is jam-packed with hundreds of music labels. Among them are powerhouses SM (home of TVXQ, Girls' Generation, EXO), YG (BIGBANG, BLACKPINK), JYP (TWICE, GOT7) and Big Hit Entertainment (BTS). The singer hopefuls train there for years before making their debuts.

But even after a long-awaited debut, they have hectic schedules organized by the agencies that seek profits. This again hinders them from exploring themselves and interacting with diverse people. Even if they have time, the singers should reduce public appearances and be cautious when building rapport with the others, to avoid being embroiled in scandals that can deal a blow to their image. Hence, their managers take extreme care of them, doing virtually everything on their behalf.

This leaves the stars unable to stand on their own feet even after becoming adults. They are impeccable performers on stage, but are mentally immature people off stage, who find it demanding to manage emotions, overcome hardships and handle conflicts.

According to Kwon, these singers tend to be more stable when they are part of a group, but face severe solitude and confusion once going solo. Most K-pop stars launch their solo career after the band's heyday has passed. But on the competitive K-pop scene, where more than 50 fresh groups debut annually, the golden age only lasts a few years, if it ever comes.

"The singers easily get lost when they climb down from the top and stand alone," Kwon said. "They are lonely, don't know how to make use of the free time and stay clueless about their next goals in life. During this period, they are particularly vulnerable to mental illnesses such as depression, feeling more powerless and frustrated about malicious comments. This might have led them to be unable to endure their lives."

Kwon says it is time for K-pop labels to act to prevent another suicide, pointing out that they are not taking enough care of the musicians' mental health. He says they should provide more professional counseling customized for the celebrities, followed by proper treatment and encouragement.

"It is extremely challenging to get over mental disorders alone," the psychologist said. "The agencies should help the singers receive a helping hand from reliable experts, instead of attempting to conceal their suffering. They also need to ponder whether their current training system is appropriate. I believe the companies should begin with assisting the musicians set a 'right' goal when they are young. Those aspiring singers shouldn't be driven by popularity, fame or money, but better aim to enjoy their music and performances to the fullest."

He also stressed the need to take firm action against online haters, claiming more stringent regulations are needed. He is not the only one calling for the move. Psychiatrist Park Jong-suk also agrees with Kwon.

Psychiatrist Park Jong-suk says malicious comment is a type of passive aggression. Courtesy of Park Jong-suk

Malicious comment, mental disorder and suicide

"Hate comment is a type of passive aggression that can worsen symptoms of mental disorders for K-pop stars," Park told The Korea Times. "Korea should enact laws to wipe out negative comments and punish the offenders, even if they are minors. An online real-name system is another option."

To cope with cyber bullying, the singers should avoid reading the comments, Park says. If they did read, they should give themselves some time to chill out and heal wounded hearts by sharing their troubles with acquaintances or seeing doctors.

"But not all celebrities can follow my advice due to busy schedules or other reasons," he said. "This is why I am saying that the policy should be established first to protect them. There will be more suicides if no improvement is made on the policy and people's perception."

Park said the number of people now seeking hospital treatment for mental health issues is almost three times that of 10 years ago, but the prejudice and stigma linked to mental illnesses remains rampant.

"If a mentally impaired patient shows any signs of suicide, hospitalization is the only solution," he said. "Many countries make it obligatory for such patients to stay in the hospital for days, but that is not the case in Korea."

It sounds ironic because Korea has had the highest suicide rate among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries since 2003.

"Korean patients are reluctant to go to hospital, believing a psychiatric institution is a place for 'more serious' cases," Park said. "Many of them think they can get over mental diseases by themselves and that counseling or treatment will not work. They even oppose the construction of a psychiatric hospital in their region, considering it an 'unwelcome' building."

Park also warned of the "Werther Effect." It is named after the protagonist of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther," who committed suicide. The effect refers to copycat suicides after widely publicized suicides of those in the public eye. According to the Korea Association for Suicide Prevention's 2013 data, if one celebrity dies by suicide, some 600 people emulate it.

Park wrapped up by saying that mourning the deaths of Goo and Sulli is not enough.

"We all should take action to prevent the recurrence of tragedy," he said.

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