South Korean actor Song Jae-Rim, a former model who gained fame by starring in various TV dramas over the past decade, was found dead on Tuesday at his home at the age of 39, local authorities reported.
According to the report from the Seongdong police, in Seoul, collected by the Yonhap agency, and in turn by Efe, a friend who had planned to have lunch with Song found his lifeless body in his apartment, and after the arrival of the officers, a note was found at the scene, where initially there were no signs of foul play.
The actor rose to fame in 2012 with his portrayal of a royal guard in the historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun, and since then he began to star in other variety shows and TV series, such as the reality showWe Got Married or the series Our Gap Soon, aired in 2016.
The South Korean entertainment industry is known for its high-pressure environment, in which celebrities are subjected to strict standards regarding their appearance and behavior, and the recent deaths of "K-pop" idols or South Korean drama actors have sparked a debate on mental health in that sector.
South Korean entertainment agencies have implemented some mental health support measures in recent years, such as counseling and flexible schedules.
The number of suicides in South Korea last year reached 13,770, while in 2020, the Asian country ranked as the member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with the highest number of such deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, with 24.1, more than double the average of 10.7 and well above the second, Lithuania, with 20.3.