Choi Jin-sil, South Korean Popular Actress, Dead In Apparent Suicide

SEOUL, South Korea — A popular South Korean actress depressed after a divorce and distraught over online rumors was found dead Thursday in an apparent suicide, hours after she sent a text message saying "take care of my children no matter what happens."

Choi Jin-sil, 39, known as "The Nation's Actress," is believed to have hanged herself in the bathroom of her Seoul home, said Yang Jae-ho, chief investigator at Seoul's Seocho Police Station.

Choi had been depressed since her 2004 divorce and worried about how to care for her two young children, friends told police. She had been distraught after the suicide of a fellow actor she was rumored to have pressured about a loan, police said.

No suicide note was found. However, Choi sent an assistant two cell phone text messages Wednesday night asking her to "take care of my children no matter what happens" and telling her that "I'm sorry," the chief investigator said.

Choi's mother told police that the actress returned home drunk around midnight Wednesday, crying and denying the recent rumors, before going into the bathroom, Yang said.

Her mother woke the next morning to find the bathroom door locked and called for help, Yang said.

"Given the results of an examination showing no trace of physical trauma on her body, we concluded that it was a suicide," Yang told reporters. He said an autopsy and an investigation were under way.

The news shocked her fans, as well as stars and film directors at the Pusan International Film Festival, which opened Thursday in the southern beach town of Busan. A moment of silence was observed in Choi's honor at the opening ceremony.

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Choi made her debut in the late 1980s, quickly becoming the nation's sweetheart and earning a reputation as a box-office draw. She also starred in prime time TV dramas.

The actress was preparing for the second season of a TV drama, "The Last Scandal of My Life," in which she played a woman who finds love with a top actor after a painful divorce.

Choi herself had gone through a difficult divorce. She had married baseball star Cho Sung-min in 2000, then a pitcher for the Japanese pro baseball team Yomiuri Giants, but they split in 2002 and divorced two years later.

The deterioration of their relationship became tabloid fodder, culminating in Cho's arrest for attacking her. Their children are in elementary school.

A friend said Choi worried constantly about raising the children and about her future as an actress, and repeatedly expressed her wish to die, Yang said. Her mother told police Choi was depressed after the divorce and had been taking a sedative, Yang said.

Rumors that she had lent money to actor and longtime friend Ahn Jae-hwan, who was found dead in his car in early September, upset the actress, friends and family said.

Choi denied loaning Ahn money and asked police to find out who was circulating the claims that Ahn killed himself after Choi pressured him to repay a large debt.

A securities firm employee and another suspect are under investigation for defamation in that case, Yang said.

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Associated Press writer Min Lee contributed to this report from Busan, South Korea.

Comments

[stellabae]

This is such a terrible tragedy. She must have been going through alot of pain. It's so tragic and sad this happened to a great actress. It also makes me angry that people can be so ruthless and evil to try and ruin another person's life and drive a person to commit suicide and leave behind their children. What could have made her commit such a terrible unimaginable act and leave her children behind? Ms. Choi Jin Sil....you will be greatly missed by everyone. May you rest in peace with God.

[AfroGoddess]

I watch a lot of these Asian dramas and its odd how many of these women commit suicide. To read about something so awful is so starkly constrasted aganst the shows I've watched. Yes I know its ficticious, but when when you see them so bright and then find out how they die, its almost frightening. With American celebrities, you can see it coming based on the drug use.

[Anonani]

I am realy sorry to read about this. Truly my heart goes out to her children, mother, and her fans.

[HypnoToad]

This is just saddening. I am sorry she was in such pain.

[Palemoon]

Such a sad story to read about. It's really revealing when you read about someone whom you would think has everything going for them, to find out that they are so depressed. I know I have been down that dark road myself. But I survived it. If only by thinking of something, anything, just one thing to live for. I know it sounds silly, but I was to the point that I had to convince myself to stick around for my favorite singer's new cd at one point. But then I would hit another depression and I told my psychologist about it, how I had lost even that desire. That I was scared. I've written poems, one about suicide that one doctor said was so painfully honest and pretty, that I should get it published. But I can't. I read it and see myself in it, how I was on that edge. And I have this fear that by publishing it, it might cause someone to live out that poem. But others tell me it might stop someone, like it stopped me, that because I opened up about it, I was able to deal with it. I guess on the surface I consider myself a weak person, possibly a lack of self-esteem, but yet I feel as if I can make a difference, conquer the world and even bring world peace if given just 1 chance.

I guess I'm just a basket case, but I'll be alright.

[Palemoon]

I wanted to clarify in case someone read too much into this and was worried about my safety and welfare. I just wanted to say that as for myself, there was a turning point about 2 years ago. I found out I had a heart problem. While that sounds devastating, it goes back to that reason to live. I have found some reasons. And it's not until lately that I'm faced with the possibility of it being taken away without my control. Now all I want to do is to LIVE for the sake of living. I had even gotten to the point that I was now so scared of dying that I was afraid of letting myself live. I have to learn to take it one day at a time. Still make plans. Still live my life and cherish every moment I'm here.

And I realize now, if I had gone over the edge, just how much it would have hurt people. That probably was the biggest realization. And it's funny looking back, that it took a health problem and my own mortality to reveal it. And it was that people do care, they do give a damn about me. I am loved, even if it is by just a small cluster of friends. I never realized it, I was so stupid. I am so lucky and never bothered to realize it.

To anyone else out there in such a position, please, please, don't do it.

[gwyn]

very very sad, she was Korea's sweetheart actress, someone I've watched and loved since I was a kid.
the saddest part of this is that she was the sole guardian of her 2 small children and now they just lost their mom

[NewNews4News]

Wow that is sad, depression for 4 years. I would have suicided too if i had depression for that long, but i would have done it sooner.. like 2 years.

[bibimbap]

FYI: Her ex-husband is Korean (NOT Japanese!) -- but he did play for a Japanese baseball team.

Choi Jin-sil is/was my favorite actress. She always elevated whatever drama or film she appeared in. Her beauty & talent was truly unique: she put other actors/actresses to shame.... I'm just too heartbroken to write more.....

[dkuz09]

just heartbreaking. My heart goes out to her children.

[harriettubman]

Suicide isn't seen as something shameful in some Asian cultures. From losing their fortune to breast cancer, I've known some Japanese who've done the same thing.

Too bad these children will have no mother. That's the sad part of this. Why was her husband attacking her? A Korean and Japanese marriage? With their history as countries, I know that must've been hard to deal with.

[JDowlin1]

Suicide is painful and tragic no matter the culture. My heart goes out to her family.

[harriettubman]

It may be painful but some response to it are not like Americans. I've lived over there.

[stinkyverse]

her ex played for a japanese team, but he's korean.

[RobinSeattle]

Her husband, Cho Sung-min, was initially decently successful for the Yomiuri Giants in the Japanese pro league, but then injuries pretty much torpedoed his career.
http://www.japanbaseballdaily.com/foreignpitchinga-c.html

The Dodgers had tried to sign Cho but were outbid by Yomiuri and Dodger officials were reportedly very angry about this. As it turns out, just like with the Boston Red Sox-Kenjiro Kawasaki (who ultimately signed with Chunichi after earning free agency during his time with Yakult) matter, the Blue Crew ended up lucking out since injuries sabotaged both Cho's and Kawasaki's careers.

[Yuma]

Husband is not Japanese.
Read it!

[harriettubman]

I read it and assumed he was Japanese due to the team he played for. Koreans are treated terribly in Japan. Just like Turks are treated horribly in Germany.

[Sadducee]

Why in the world are so many people resorting to suicide?

[hungariangirl]

I know it is sounds bizarre but it is a cry for help.

[BadgersBite]

It has an enduring quality to it - a permanent solution to everything