K-pop singer Wheesung found dead at home aged 43

The South Korean singer Wheesung has died aged 43, with police reportedly planning to conduct an autopsy to determine his cause of death.

The singer, whose name was Choi Whee-sung, was found unconscious in his apartment on Monday night by emergency responders after his mother called for help, local media reported.

Police told local media they had found no signs of foul play but warned that “a significant amount of time” had elapsed since he died, with an autopsy requested.

“Artist Wheesung has left us,” his management agency Tajoy Entertainment confirmed on Tuesday, describing their staff and colleagues as being “in deep sorrow”.

Wheesung, who had a string of hits in South Korea including a popular cover of British star Craig David’s Insomnia, was scheduled to perform alongside singer KCM in the south-eastern city of Daegu this weekend.

In his final message on social media, Wheesung announced the upcoming concert and wrote: “Weight loss completed. See you on March 15.”

Since his singing debut in 2002, Wheesung had been popular in South Korea with numerous hit songs, including chart-topping With Me, and was well regarded for his soulful performances.

But his music career took a hit in 2021 when he was convicted and handed a suspended jail sentence for use of propofol – a surgical anaesthetic that is sometimes abused recreationally.

An overdose of the drug was cited as the cause of pop star Michael Jackson’s death in 2009.

The South Korean rapper Verbal Jint paid tribute on Instagram, saying: “Every moment we spent together was an honour and I’m thankful. You’ve worked so hard. Rest in peace, Wheesung.”

Another rapper, Paloalto, thanked the veteran singer for fond memories, mentioning he went to see his first concert.

“It’s shocking and sad. I’m thankful for the music that accompanied me through the good memories of my youth,” he wrote on Instagram.

South Korea’s entertainment industry has been under scrutiny for years due to the sheer number of stars of stage and screen dying at young ages. K-pop stars are picked up by agencies at a young age – usually in their early or mid-teens – and live under tight control, with their days taken over by gruelling musical and dance training.

Just last month, the South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home aged 24. A former child star, her career came to a sudden halt after a drunk-driving accident in 2022, after which she struggled to land new roles.

Last year, the South Korean actor Song Jae-lim was found dead at home aged 39, while Moonbin, the K-pop star and member of boyband Astro, was found dead in his apartment in 2023, aged just 25.

Several other young K-pop stars who have died in recent years include Goo Hara and Sulli in 2019, Minwoo of boyband 100% in 2018 and SHINee’s lead singer, Jonghyun, in 2017.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.