Korean Idol Yohan Passes Away At 28
His family has asked for the cause of death to remain undisclosed.
His family has asked for the cause of death to remain undisclosed.
Korean idol Kim Junghwan, also known by his stage name Yohan, passed away on June 16 at the age of 28. The family has asked for privacy, and for the cause of death to not be disclosed to the public.
Rumours that he had passed away first started after Korean fans began tweeting emotional messages addressed to the late singer in the wee hours of June 16. “You’ve worked hard. I’ll never forget you, I love you, and thank you,” read one such tweet. It's unclear how the fans had heard of the tragedy.
At the same time, fellow idols including U-KISS’ Kiseop and SNUPER’s Suhyun left messages on the late star's Instagram, which hinted that the unthinkable had happened. “I love you very much, Yohan. I miss you,” Kiseop wrote, while Suhyun said, “It was really tough for you Yohan, I hope you’ll have nothing but happiness over there. I’ll pray a lot [for you].”
Their messages led netizens to believe that Yohan might have taken his own life. Even before any confirmation of his death was announced, fans all over the world lent support to each other, reminding everyone to take care of their mental health.
Fans recalled that the last time he interacted with them was on May 29, where he had a live broadcast on streaming platform VLIVE. Even then, nothing seemed to be amiss.
Soon after, the Yonsei University Severance Hospital Funeral Hall uploaded details of Yohan's funeral on its website, confirming that he had passed away. He will be laid to rest today (Jun 18).
His agency, KJ Entertainment has since confirmed the tragic news. “We’re devastated to relay the most unfortunate [and] sorrowful news. On June 16, TST member Yohan left this world. His family is in mourning.” They added that his family has requested for the cause of death not to be revealed.
Yohan first made his showbiz debut with boy group N.O.M in 2013, but the group disbanded three years later. He joined the group TST in 2017. He celebrated his 28th birthday on April 16, and his last Instagram post was posted on May 31, where he expressed his wish to go on holiday.
If you or someone you know is having difficulties coping, here are some numbers to call:
Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
CHAT @ *SCAPE: (+65) 6493 6500, (+65) 6493 6501
SAF Counselling Hotline: 1800-278-0022
Photos: Kim Junghwan's Instagram, Yonsei University Severance Hospital Funeral Hall
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