On December 18 of 2017, news of this beloved K-Pop star shocked many fans. At age 27, Kim Jong-hyun, a member of the K-Pop boy band SHINee, committed suicide due to depression. In his will, he wrote, "I'm broken from the inside. The depression which had slowly been eating me up finally consumed me and I could not overcome it."
Jonghyun is not the first to be affected by depression in South Korea. In recent years, many Korean celebrities have revealed that they are suffering from mental disorders, namely depression, panic disorder, and anxiety. While many celebrities receive praise for their hard work or talent, many more receive harsh, inhumane criticism and abuse from the public. Such harsh criticism lead to mental breakdown and anxiety for many. Yet for the longest time, stigma surrounding mental health in Korea prevented celebrities from requesting for help. With Jonghyun's suicide, awareness surrounding mental health among celebrities has been increasing — still, it isn't enough.
How do you think we can create a safer space for people struggling with mental conditions? Do you know of other celebrities in Korea or elsewhere in the world who are/were struggling with mental issues but are/were unable to speak out due to stigma?