Culture
K-pop star Goo Hara has died at age 28 just months after suicide attempt
The young artist was just 28 years old.
This tragic event was not foreseen in the slightest and has left many fans devastated at the loss of such a talented musician who was part of the five-part girl group, KARA.
An investigation on the cause of Hara’s death is still underway. Taking into consideration Hara’s recent attempted suicide in March of this year, the possibility of her having killed herself seems to be a likely cause.
March was a difficult time for Hara as her ex-boyfriend was attempting to blackmail her with threats of assault and the release of a sex video. Because of the terrible effect that this was having on Hara, her contract was soon terminated by her agency.
Hara signed a new contract in June with a leading talent management agency in Japan. The agency, Production Ogi, helped Hara gain popularity and she appeared on TV shows and well-known fashion events in Japan. Hara soon released her solo Japanese single “Midnight Queen,” which was a hit.
In October of this year, Hara lost her best friend, Choi Jin-ri, otherwise known as Sulli. The young singer and actress was also found dead in her home and the authorities have stated that it was most likely caused by suicide.
Sulli had been a member of the K-pop girl band, f(x). In recent years, there have been multiple deaths among young Korean pop artists and actors. Many were living with depression, dealing with abuse, and hiding all their pain under the elegant exterior of the entertainment industry.
Major entertainment companies have resulted in celebrities being put on pedestals above the legions of fans. Celebrities are caught between their personal lives and the lives that fans prefer to see them living.
Fans obsess over every little thing that celebrities do. They are judged for what they wear, what they eat, what they say, and beyond.
Unfortunately, the lives that fans see, are covering the ugly truths that celebrities are constantly dealing with behind the scenes.
In Goo Hara’s case, she tried to live out a false persona for too long and therefore led to her to give up on not only the false life fans saw, but also her personal life.