Opinion / Are Jonghyun, Sulli and Goo Hara victims of the K-pop industry?
K-pop trainees go through rigorous preparation, lasting from 3 to 7 years before they appear on stage, during which time they spend 24 hours a day living with team members in a restricted environment
While the exact causes of death have not been disclosed, all these figures are known to have suffered from depression. A note from Jonghyun was revealed to the public by his friend Nine9, of Korean band Dear Cloud. She said that Jonghyun asked her to release his note should he die.
“I am broken from the inside,” the note read. “The depression that slowly gnawed at me finally swallowed me, and I couldn’t defeat it.”
“Clashing with the world was not meant for me.
“The life of being famous was not meant for me.
“That’s why I’ve suffered. Suffer[ing] comes from the clash and fame. Why did I choose it? It’s funny.”