Choi Sung-bong, the South Korean pop star who was also busted for running a notorious cancer scam, has died. He was 33.
According to the Korea Times, Choi was discovered by police at his Seoul home on the morning of June 20. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Authorities have reportedly ruled Choi’s cause of death as suicide.
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According to the Hollywood Reporter, after a decade of online fame thanks to a 2011 performance on Korea’s Got Talent, Choi admitted he had duped his fans into donating money to him based on his claim he needed funds for cancer treatment.
Choi had claimed he had been suffering from multiple forms of cancer to solicit the donations, but his claims were eventually exposed to be a hoax.
He later reportedly claimed he had returned all donated funds from a false fundraiser.
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Choi was most known for competing in Korea’s Got Talent in 2011, where he placed second.
Footage of him singing a cover of Nella Fantasia by Ennio Morricone promptly went viral online, even catching the attention of pop star Justin Bieber.
If you or someone you know needs immediate or mental health-related support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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