The 39-year-old Choi Jin-young, actor and younger brother of the late actress Choi Jin-sil, committed suicide by hanging himself, said police officials yesterday.
"There were no signs of a break-in or violence whatsoever," said an official of the Gangnam Police Station.
"Though Choi did not leave a suicide note, he obviously committed suicide because of depression."
The police decided not to carry out an autopsy, granting a request from Choi's family, said officials.
The actor was found on Monday afternoon after having hanged himself with an electric wire in the attic at his home in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul.
He was moved to a nearby hospital but was dead by the time he got there, said hospital officials.
Choi had been experiencing serious depression recently but refused to undergo professional treatment, according to family members and friends. He was largely reliant on sleeping pills and often complained about his career slump as an actor.
He also refused to attend his classes at the Department of Theater and Film in Hanyang University, which he joined as a freshman last year.
According to his family, Choi battled depression since the death of his elder sister, actress Choi Jin-sil, who also committed suicide in October 2008.
He earlier attempted to commit suicide by taking an overdose of pills last year, according to a close acquaintance. He survived after having his stomach pumped.
He also threatened on several occasions to hang himself, said officials.
"His late sister had always been an intimate friend and acting mentor to him," said an acquaintance.
"Her suicide and the consequences must have left him hollow."
The elder Choi had suffered from the suicide of close friend and actor Ahn Jae-hwan, and also online rumors that she was involved in his death.
The two children of his sister, for who Choi has been acting as guardian, will be left under the custody of their grandmother. Their father, former baseball star Cho Sung-min transferred all of his parental rights to her late in 2008.
Courtesy of the source: tellme@heraldm.com by Bae Hyun-jung
Korean Actor Choi Jin-young Committed Suicide
