Wheesung, a popular South Korean singer and songwriter, was found dead in his home in Seoul on Monday evening. He was 43 years old. The cause of death has not been determined, but police said there were no signs of foul play at the scene.
Wheesung’s agency, Tajoy Entertainment, released a statement saying, “The artist Wheesung has left us. He was found in cardiac arrest at his residence and was later pronounced dead.” The company expressed deep sorrow on behalf of its artists and staff. Known for his powerful vocals and emotional ballads, Wheesung debuted in 2002 with the hit R&B album “Like a Movie.” His popularity grew as he worked across various genres, including R&B, pop, and hip-hop.
However, his career suffered a setback in 2021 when he was convicted of using the anesthetic propofol without a prescription. He received a one-year suspended prison sentence. According to The Korea Times, Wheesung was found unconscious in his apartment in Seoul’s Gwangjin-gu district at 6:29 p.m. His mother, who lives in the same building, discovered him unresponsive after he failed to meet his manager earlier in the day and couldn’t be reached.
Singer Wheesung’s untimely demise
Wheesung’s death is a significant loss to the K-pop community, where he was known for his immense talent and contributions to the music industry. He was a respected mentor and vocal coach to numerous K-pop stars and performed in concerts worldwide.
Fellow artists shared tributes to Wheesung on social media. Singer Yoon Min-soo posted a video of a duet with Wheesung, writing, “Wheesung, let’s sing and make music freely in that place. I won’t forget your pure and clear heart.” Rapper Verbal Jint shared a black square on Instagram, saying, “Every moment we shared was an honor, and I’m grateful.
You’ve worked so hard, rest in peace, Wheesung.”
Wheesung had been scheduled to perform with ballad singer KCM this weekend in Daegu. His R&B ballads had won praise from veteran Korean singers like Shin Seung-hun and Seo Taiji. The singer’s death is the latest tragedy to strike South Korea’s entertainment industry, following the recent deaths of several celebrities.
Authorities are investigating the possibility of a drug overdose, although no official cause of death has been released.
