Late K-pop star Sulli’s brother accuses father of ‘preying’ on her wealth and assets

KUALA LUMPUR — Less than six months following the death of K-pop star Sulli, another controversy has ensued — this time over the former f(x) group member’s inheritance.

Her older brother Choi Dae-hee has gone to social media to accuse their father of ‘preying’ on Sulli’s remaining wealth and assets by falsely claiming he is close to family members.

Korean pop culture site Allkpop reported that Mr Choi had uploaded several KakaoTalk screenshots containing messages sent by their father, and accused him of not visiting Sulli’s grave.

Their father had uploaded an image of Sulli’s grave as proof that he visited.

However, Mr Choi said that their father had not attended Sulli’s burial ceremony and the photo of the grave was actually taken by somebody else.

“This is not even funny. How can you even try to cope with someone else’s photo? Stop lying,” wrote Mr Choi on his social media, reported Allkpop.

“Is it not the truth that we have grown under the care of a single mother without a father? Stop saying things solely from your own perspectives.”

Her brother also alleged that their father wished to benefit while not paying inheritance tax.

It was reported last year that Mr Choi had declined to accept his sister’s inheritance, as news spread that their parents are fighting over the matter.

Chinese website Sina reported at the time that Sulli had left behind some five billion won (S$5.81 million) and there had been a fallout between her parents over the inheritance.

Sulli had been found dead in a bedroom on the second floor of her home by her manager on Oct 14 last year.

Sulli, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri, first gained attention as a child actress, playing the young Princess Seonhwa of Silla in the SBS drama Ballad of Seodong. She then debuted with the K-pop girl group f(x) in 2009.

She took a year-long hiatus in 2014 and chose to leave the group to pursue an acting career, appearing in various dramas and films. Her most recent appearance was in the popular TV drama Hotel del Luna.

She released the single Goblin in early 2019, surprising fans who thought she had retired from music. MALAY MAIL