Celebrities' bereaved families act to give their loved one's death meaning

Kim So-dam, the sister of the late K-pop star Jonghyun and director of the Shiny Foundation, explains the psychological support project for young artists. Captured from Shiny Foundation's social media

Kim So-dam, sister of the late Jonghyun, a member of K-pop group SHINee who tragically passed away at the age of 27, recently opened up about her personal journey of healing.

After years of feeling as though she had been hiding from the world, Kim is now finding ways to express her inner thoughts. This newfound courage has inspired her to launch a psychological counseling project aimed at supporting young artists.

"I’ve spent so much time feeling hidden away, but I’m finally discovering ways to open up and share what’s inside," Kim said.

Seven years after her brother's passing, Kim introduced herself for the first time through a video on the social media channels of the "Shiny Foundation." She took this step to promote the foundation's new project, "Youth Trust UP," a psychological counseling initiative for young artists.

Having lost her brother due to depression, Kim is now dedicated to protecting the mental health of other young artists. "I believe there are stories you've also kept to yourself. Instead of being trapped in those difficult times, let's overcome them together," she said.

Jonghyun's family established the nonprofit foundation in 2018, a year after his suicide. Named after his posthumous album's title track, the foundation has been funded by family contributions and Jonghyun's royalties. It supports scholarships and platforms for young artists and aims to build a psychological counseling center for artists as its next goal.

Goo Ho-in, the brother of the late Goo Ha-ra, advocates for the passage of the Goo Ha-ra Act in May 2020. Yonhap

Legislation, foundations born from celebrity tragedies

Similarly, the "Goo Ha-ra Act" (Civil Law Amendment) passed through the National Assembly last month, largely thanks to the efforts of the family of the late singer Goo Ha-ra, who died by suicide at 28. When Goo died in 2019, her estranged mother, who had not been in contact for over 20 years, became entitled to a significant portion of her inheritance.

Goo's brother, Goo Ho-in, led the campaign to amend the law so that parents who have not raised their children cannot inherit their property.

After five years of effort, the amendment was finally passed last month. Goo Ho-in expressed his gratitude, saying, "I hope the 'Goo Hara Act' will help prevent similar injustices for future victims."

Culture critic Ha Jae-geun said, "The bereaved families of those who died by suicide, who have endured immense pain, are using their personal loss to comfort others who may be facing similar struggles and to prevent further tragedies. After a celebrity's death, their families often gain social influence and a platform, and it’s commendable that they are using this for the public good."

This trend is not new. In 2016, the widow of singer Shin Hae-chul, who died at 46 due to medical malpractice, played a key role in the passage of the "Shin Hae-chul Law," an amendment to the Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Act.

Similarly, the father of actress Jang Jin-young, who passed away at 37 from stomach cancer in 2009, established the Gaeam Scholarship Foundation the following year, continuing to support students through scholarships.

Shin Hae-chul's widow sheds tears after the passage of the Shin Hae-chul Law on Nov. 30, 2019. Yonhap

Changing perceptions and promoting healing

These actions by celebrities' families are helping to shift public perceptions of celebrities in a positive direction.

Kim Heon-sik, a culture critic, said, "While there are still negative perceptions about idols and other celebrities, the public service activities of their families help change these views. Just as in countries like the U.S., where the families of famous individuals contribute to society through foundations and donations, it's important for this trend to continue in Korea."

For instance, after the death of actor Matthew Perry, known for his role in the globally beloved sitcom "Friends," his family established a foundation for addiction treatment and donated his estate to the cause. Perry had battled substance addiction for 30 years.

This approach to mourning also has significant healing effects. Lim Myung-ho, a professor of psychology at Dankook University, said, "While there is still a tendency to hide or downplay issues like death or suicide, the social activities of bereaved families help keep the memory of the deceased alive. This not only aids the healing process for the families but also provides comfort to the public who may have been affected by the celebrity's death."

The late actor Jang Jin-young and her father Jang Gil-nam / Korea Times file

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.