This is such a sad and distressing news to hear, I was hoping for a year in K-ent without any such happenings. K-actor and model Song Jae Rim has passed away today, he was only 39 years old. He was discovered deceased in his apartment after a friend he was supposed to have lunch with went to check in on him. Police do not suspect foul play and reportedly he left two letters that are being described as suicide notes. His last SNS post was 10 months ago changing his Instagram handle name to “starting along journey” and it’s being looked back on as concerning with what has happened today. My condolences to his family, friends, and fans, such a loss of a talented actor that graced many K-drama I watched.
Rest in peace Song Jaerim.
This news on top of the ongoing HYBE vs MHJ/New Jeans debate makes me think that Korean entertainment will not change. They will just mourn for a few days before resuming their toxic culture.
My heart is breaking for his death…the pain he went thru and the hopelessness he must have felt to make this decision. May God bless his soul. RIP
So true. RIL SJR
I was shocked , really sad , i like him , time to mourn but i fear that the decision he choose might be chosen also by others in this era of dramaland crisis for some actors .At the end you are always alone ! RIP .
I agree…His journey as a actor hasn’t been easy..
It is extremely sad that this happened. These silent illnesses are so hard to detect, and even when detected, hard to treat. I honestly always thought he was an incredible actor, and he will be missed.
WHAT THE- OMG. T_T I really liked everything he has been in. Truly sadden by this news! May he rest in peace and find happiness!
This is so sad. He must have been really struggling, I hope he finds peace and his family are able to cope with his loss. You know I was in the comments section under the article about the ML from Pearl girl and even about LMH and just reading vile comments about celebrities and their looks. I can’t imagine living under that pressure.
RIP. I can’t imagine what his family and friends must be feeling. He has been working recently and sounds like he even made plans with a friend to have lunch, so it must have seemed like he was doing okay, and now it turns out, he wasn’t doing okay.
I loved him in a lot of older dramas. It has been long time since I wanted him to get a big breakout. He was talented actor and also very good looking. May he rest in peace.
He took his own life, for whatever reason that will never be disclosed. By now the korean govt should have enough stats and data to do an indepth studies on why so many suicide amongst young employed Koreans. There could be something innocent or toxic or nefarious or foul play but indirect. No 39 yo kill themselves all ot a sudden. There must be a reason. I know depression is one but what caused the depression. They should investigate that which they won’t and as usual mental health is a joke and suicide is hush hush when young people keep killing themselves.
The news is so sad and shocking.
RIP beautiful man.
Well,his contract expired months ago,had no new agency,working alone with no manager must be overwhelming at his age.
Correction,he did sign with a new agency helm by industry veteran manager Mr A.
!!! this is so sad, I remember him from all those early 2010s dramas and it seemed like he was working steadily in dramas and films right up to this year, I’m so sad he left us at such a young age.
How shocking the news! Whatever happens, that should not be the end of the world. This should be an important motto for every human being to keep in mind.
So sad. Just last week I watched Gong Yoo’s The Suspect. SJR had a small part and played the the very cool university professor who was also a N Korean assassin. He was very convincing in his role. This actor had a very unique look and tall physique. It’s sad he was not appreciated. RIP Mr. Song Jae Rim.
This is so shocking. Looks are deceptive. He always came across as carefree easy going, with a sense of humour.
I recall his nickname once upon a time, was “applecheeks? ” (applebutt) for whatever reason. After the Mermaid drama with Jo Bo-a.
RIP. I hope his family will find gradual peace.
K-ent or rather, Korea has some serious problems with their culture that they really need to look into. Suicide is a huge problem in their society, absolutely soul-crushing place to live in if you don’t fit whatever rigid standards they have. Support also seems to be limited and individuals prefer to keep their problems to themselves and see ending their lives as one of the solutions. I’ve never seen an ent industry outside of them and probably Japan that has celebs taking their lives every year. But the agencies, K-media and fans are complicit in this. Most people are just concerned with the fake positivity, superficialness and hype of the industry – what brands are their idols the ambassador of etc, sending protest trucks about inconsequential things like lack of promotion, but will never make a strong public stand about things like this. Which is one of the reasons why the industry is on a decline – the weird fandoms and their culture. So glad I noped out of there and felt my mental health improve when I did as well.
But isn’t China heading that way?
I’m reading accounts of him constantly being stalked and harassed by a Japanese fan for several years, not only him, his friends, family and fiancée. I read that because of this, he who was supposed go get married in August, had the wedding called off by his fiancée, and the shock of that led him to kill himself. The authorities couldn’t go after the stalker as she resides in Japan, while he lives in S. Korea.
If this is true, then I’m practically vibrating with anger! No one should be bullied to the point they take their own life! Unfortunately, these things are so common in that part of the world. Celebrities should be protected from stalkers and deranged people.
OH My!!!