Choi Jin-Ri, who debuted in the girl group “f(x)” under the stage name Sulli in 2009, was a major symbol in the K-Pop’s second generation. On October 14th, Sulli’s manager found her dead in her apartment in Seoul. It should be noted that the cause of Sulli’s death has not been officially verified; however, it is suspected to be suicide.

Despite being a massively recognized pop-star and actress, Sulli had quite a distinctive characteristic in that she constantly broke Korean societal taboos.

In April, Sulli live-streamed herself drinking, sparking criticism from many Korean fans. It was on that same live stream when Sulli started the discussion of gaze rape. Gaze rape, which describes the excessive staring at someone to the point of their discomfort, was brought up by Sulli in response to fans asking personal questions. When a viewer demanded that Sulli turn off the live stream, she fired back with, “I do not think such a person is my fan. What are you?”

Sulli discussing the controversial, taboo topic of gaze rape, made her a target for intense online harassment by male “fans” who hid behind screen names and imposed their judgment on any female who threatens the social norms they value.

Being a woman in the Korean limelight is incredibly difficult. The pressure to conform to societal beauty standards leads to K-Pop stars (or idols) being pressured into cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery has become such a major component of Korean pop-culture, that nose jobs and eyelid surgeries are popular high-school graduation gifts. Singer IU once reported eating only a protein shake, apple, and sweet potato each day due to the pressure to maintain weight under 110 lbs. Idols often consume under 1,000 calories a day while promoting, performing, and exercising. The work is severe and damaging.

Sulli started her journey of fame and exposure at just 11 years old. She has been in the public eye for most of her life — meaning she has been under this immense pressure for most of her life.

“Celebrities are working under extreme pressure and the level of stress they face is increasing as competition becomes heavier. Young K-pop idols particularly don’t eat or sleep properly because of their tight schedules, yet they are asked to hide their emotions and smile and show positive attitudes for their fans in public. They have to be sexy but must not have sex, and be tough but must not fight for anything,” wrote Kim Dong-wan of the group Shinhwa on social media, according to the Korea Times.

Despite the physical limitations, female idols are constantly harassed by males in the industry who feel entitled to know personal details about their lives. In 2013, Goo Hara of the group KARA began to cry on a variety show when the hosts tormented her about dating, as most idols are not allowed to. When the hosts told Hara they were only joking, she responded with “I’m really angry.”

In May, Hara was found unconscious in her apartment after posting the word, “Goodbye” on Instagram.

The constant pressure from fans and the massive entertainment companies that stars work for since their youth contributes to extreme mental health problems. And considering that mental health issues in Korea are massively surrounded by social stigma, there isn’t a push for treatment. 78% of elderly Koreans reportedly equate depression with weakness. In a society where mental health issues are ignored, suicide victims seek medical help for fatigue, stomach aches, and focus issues — all symptoms of depression — but not mental help.

This stigma is what gives South Korea the highest suicide rate among the 35 OECD countries. And combining the nationwide mental health stigma with toxic idol culture puts people like Jonghyun, Goo Hara, and Sulli in danger.

Sulli’s recent death is a testament to two urgent shifts that Korea needs. The first being a shift in the way that Korean society addresses mental health. The government has pledged to lower the suicide rate by 2022, however, the plan received scrutiny due to its overlooking of the stigma that stops people from seeking help. The second being a change in the way that Korean pop-culture treats women. The double standards are obvious, and they’re taking lives.

If these problems aren’t addressed, we’ll be forced to ask the dreaded question: who’s next?

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