Fans and fellow
performers on Tuesday mourned the death of a K-pop star who had long been the
target of online bullying, some calling for greater mental health support for
those working in the country's notoriously competitive show business
industry.  The body of Sulli, a former
member of top girl group f(x), was discovered Monday by her manager at her home
on the outskirts of Seoul.

"There has
been no evidence of an outsider having broken in, or any other crimes committed
by another person," an official from Seongnam Sujeong Police Agency told
AFP. "Suicide is among the possible causes." Authorities said the
25-year-old had been suffering from "severe depression". South Korea
has one of the world's highest rates of suicide which, according to recent
government figures, is among the top causes of death for those under 40.

"I wish I
could hope for Sulli to be the last idol to die from suicide and mental
illness," tweeted one fan. "But knowing how cruel society is, I can't
help but be afraid about who's going to be the next one." Beneath the
glitz and glamour, the K-pop industry is known for its cut-throat
competitiveness, a lack of privacy, online bullying and relentless public
pressure to maintain a wholesome image at all times and at any cost.

Mental health
taboo        

K-pop stars like
Sulli are picked up by agencies at a young age-usually in their early- or
mid-teens-and their lives then taken over by grueling singing and dancing
training. Taboos about mental illness dissuade many South Koreans from seeking
help. Sulli's death echoes that of fellow K-pop star Jonghyun, who took his
life in 2017 after battling with depression. Both were members of the SM
Entertainment stable, one of the country's biggest talent agencies.

K-pop singer Goo
Hara, a close friend of the late star, was also sent to hospital last year
after a suspected suicide attempt. Goo had been abused by her ex who threatened
to post her spycam sex vidoes online. "I hope Jin-ri is now in a place
where she can do whatever she wants," Goo wrote on Instagram-using Sulli's
real name and sharing photos of the two of them together. Sulli, who started
her career as a child actress at age 11, made her debut in 2009 for f(x), which
quickly became one of K-pop's top girl groups.

Known for
behavior considered controversial in South Korea-including her refusal to wear
a bra in public-she had been relentlessly bullied online throughout her career,
with many sexually abusive comments. She recently hosted a TV series where
celebrities discussed their experiences of online abuse. She had also candidly
shared her experience struggling with panic disorder and social phobia.

Her outspokenness
resonated with many young South Korean women who have been leading a new wave
of feminists fighting a patriarchal society obsessed with looks. "Being
one of the first female artists in K-pop to talk about mental health and
feminism is amazing. I love you so much Sulli - I hope in heaven you are
finally free," a fan wrote in a tweet.--AFP