South Korean actor Song Jae-lim found dead at age 39

November 13, 2024 journo

South Korean actor Song Jae-lim, known for his role in the K-drama Moon Embracing the Sun, has died aged 39.

He was found at his Seoul home Tuesday. Local police did not immediately comment on the cause of death.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, citing anonymous police sources, reported that a note was found at Song’s home and that there were no signs of foul play.

Local media reported that his body was discovered by a friend who came to have lunch with him.

Song made his debut with the 2009 film Actresses and rose to fame after playing a royal guard in the 2012 television hit Moon Embracing the Sun.

The TV show was a fantasy drama about the romance between a medieval Korean king and a female shaman.

He also appeared in the celebrity reality show We Got Married in 2014, and played a supporting role in this year’s streaming fantasy drama Queen Woo.

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The recent deaths of other Korean celebrities, including Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun and K-pop star Moonbin, have raised concerns about mental health and pressures in South Korea’s entertainment industry.

K-pop stars, for example, are picked up by agencies at a young age — usually in their early or mid teens — and live under tight control, with their days taken over by gruelling musical and dance training.

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.