Choi Jin-sil

Choi Jin-sil was a South Korean actress who was considered one of the best actresses in the country, nicknamed “The Nation’s Actress”. She debuted in the 1980s and played leading roles in some of the highest-rated Korean dramas of all time, such as Jealousy, Star in My Heart, You and I, and My Rosy Life. She also starred in 18 films and appeared in hundreds of advertisements. She was widely loved by the public for her beauty, talent, and kindness1 However, her life was also full of tragedies and hardships. She grew up in a poor family and had to work hard to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She was involved in a murder scandal in 1994, when her former manager was killed by her road manager. She was summoned as a witness, but rumors spread that she was involved in the crime. She also suffered from a car accident, stalking, and abduction attempts1 In 2000, she married professional baseball player Cho Sung-Min, but their marriage was unhappy and abusive. Cho cheated on her, assaulted her, and owed a huge debt to her family. He also used the media to portray her as a bad wife. They divorced in 2004, and Choi won the custody of their two children. However, she had to drop all the charges against him and nullify his debt2 After the divorce, Choi resumed her acting career and regained her popularity. She won several awards for her roles in dramas such as My Rosy Life and Bad Woman, Good Woman. She also became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and donated generously to various causes. She was planning to make a comeback with a new drama in 20081 However, in September 2008, she became a target of malicious online rumors that accused her of being involved in the suicide of fellow actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who was her friend and business partner. She was deeply hurt by the false accusations and asked the police to investigate the source of the rumors. She also expressed her frustration and despair in interviews and phone calls with her friends and family1 On October 2, 2008, she was found dead in her home in Seoul, hanging from a shower hose in her bathroom. She left a note that read “I can’t take it anymore. Please take good care of my children.” She was 39 years old. Her death shocked the nation and sparked a public outcry against cyberbullying and defamation. Her funeral was attended by thousands of people, including celebrities, politicians, and fans. She was buried in the Seoul National Cemetery, where only national heroes and veterans are allowed13