NEWS UPDATE!!! (as of October 11, 2008)
Baek, the person who spread the rumors of Choi Jin Shil's loaning of money to the late Ahn Jae-Hwan, is now being questioned by the Korean police. To read more about this news, please read this news article: Baek Apologizes For Online Rumors Of Choi Jin Shil



Forty-year old actress Choi Jin Shil committed suicide this morning (October 2, 2008) at her home in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

According to the police, her body was found at 6:15 this morning in her bathroom. Her mother called the police after she discovered her daughter hung herself with an elastic band tied to the shower stall.

The police further revealed a last SMS message sent to Choi Jin Shil's make-up artist at 12:45 a.m.: "my friend, I am sorry, if something happens to me, please take care of my kids."

Reports say that her suicide might be caused by her alleged involvement in Ahn Jae Hwan's death who committed suicide last month.

Her acting credits are 2008's My Life's Last Romance, 2007's Bad Woman, Good Woman, 2005's My Rosy Life, 1997's Wish Upon A Star amongst others. She is divorced with baseball player Cho Sung Min in 2004 and had left behind a 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter.



To know more about this, read Choi Jin Shil Ends Her Life by coolsmurf

Actress and friend Shin Ae rushed to Choi Jin Shil's house upon learning of her death:




More news links at post #s 3, 11, 15, 20 & 22

this is so sad why are there so many suicides in the Korean entertainment industry? I really feel sorry for this woman and her kids.

Korea is by far have the most suicidal death rates amongst all Asian countries.

I guess the overwhelming stress of her "rumored involvement" with the death of Ahn Jae Hwan got to point that she couldn't take it anymore. Its just doesn't seem right at all to leave behind your son and daughter. I wonder how her kids taking this! May the kids be okay

RIP Choi Jin Shil!

::EDIT::

Oh wow! the death of Choi Jn Shil made headlines on Yahoo!

Quote:S. Korean actress found dead in suspected suicide

Written by the Associated Press (AP)

1 hour, 38 minutes ago

SEOUL, South Korea - One of South Korea's most popular actresses was found dead in a suspected suicide Thursday, police said.

Choi Jin-sil, whose fame earned her the nickname "The Nation's Actress," was found in the bathroom of her Seoul home Thursday, Seocho Police Station said.

The actress, 39, appeared to have hanged herself but an investigation was under way to determine the exact cause of death, police said. No suicide note has been found, officers said. Her death comes a month after the suicide of a fellow actor rumored to owe her money.

Choi made her debut in the late 1980s and as a bright-eyed ingenue, quickly became one of South Korea's best-loved actresses. She starred in a number of box-office hits, including the films "My Love, My Bride" of 1990 and "How to Top My Wife" of 1994, and TV dramas such as "Jealousy," "My Rosy Life" and last year's "Bad Woman, Good Woman."

Choi was preparing for the second season of the TV drama "The Last Scandal of My Life" in which she played a woman who finds love with a top actor after a painful divorce.

Choi herself had gone through a difficult divorce in recent years. She had married baseball star Cho Sung-min in 2000 while he was playing for the Japanese pro baseball club Yomiuri Giants but they divorced in 2004, with the deterioration of their relationship becoming tabloid fodder. They had two children.

Choi reportedly was suffering mental stress in recent weeks amid unsubstantiated rumors that she had lent money to actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who was found dead in his car last month in an apparent suicide.

Choi denied the rumors, and had asked police to investigate who circulated rumors that Ahn killed himself after Choi pressured him to repay the debt, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Police could not immediately confirm the report Thursday.

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this is incredibly sad news, I am very sorry for the Korean entertainment industry. They have had a large string of suicides. Although I've never heard of Choi Jin Shil, I wish her family the best.

Umm, another suicide.

She should worry about her two children. Suicide is really selfish thing.

I kinda agree with Hollinaz. Choi Jin Shil was being a bit selfish. I know we don't know what it is like to be in her shoes, but I feel that abandoning your kids is unacceptable no matter your circumstances. I hope she rests in peace, and hopefully her kids and family will be okay.

The pictures of Shinae crying is too sad for me...

It's a LOVE STORY, baby, just say YES!

i feel the same with sir lance. " why are there so many suicides in the Korean entertainment industry this past few years? i really feel sorry for the family especially to her kids.

OMG! that's sad and scary....although i don't know who that actress was..or well have never seeen her works....i just wanted to say RIP. and I hope her kids will be ok as well.....caues that sad for them....=/...but awww shin Ae knew her! chea seeing pics of Shin Ae crying is making me sad as well........... but chea may Choi Jin Shil rest in peace....

You're Beautiful, You're Handsome!

OMG, RIP to her...why the year 2008 has so many deaths related cases in Korea? and i agree with Hollinaz she should just think of her kids and ignored those rumors...poor kids

omg.veary sad news,what make her reached this state, but I care more about those kids.why she didn't think of them.I feel sorry for them.