South Korea's entertainment industry has been struck by another tragedy. Actor Park Dong-bin was discovered dead on Wednesday, leaving behind his wife and three-year-old daughter. He was 56 years old.
His body was found inside his restaurant in Pyeongtaek, which he had been preparing to open. According to The Korea Times, an acquaintance who had been assisting him with the new business discovered the star's body.
Officials from the Pyeongtaek Police Station stated that there were no immediate signs of foul play and no suicide note was found. Investigations into the exact cause of death are ongoing.
Park leaves behind his wife of six years, Lee Sang-yi, and their three-year-old daughter Jiyu, who has been battling a serious congenital heart disease since birth. During an emotional 2024 interview on the Korean therapy program Oh Eun-young's Golden Counseling Center, Park opened up about his daughter's health issues.
'She has left heart hypoplastic syndrome, where the left ventricle and aorta are underdeveloped. Without a heart transplant or surgeries, she could die,' he said at the time. Jiyu underwent her first surgery just four days after birth and later had two more surgeries.
In the same interview, Park admitted to feeling self-conscious about being an older father and said that people often mistook him for Jiyu's grandfather. 'I'm a 54-year-old father, and I'm worried about whether I can take responsibility for my family until the end,' he said, according to Star News Korea.
He also shared heartbreaking news of his own, revealing that he had been sexually assaulted as a child. 'I was sexually assaulted when I was very young. I still can't forget it,' he said. 'I realized it was sexual assault when I hit puberty and learned about sex. No one asked and my parents and my wife did not know.'
When asked why he decided to share such a personal story, Park said, 'Because I had a child. I did not want my beloved daughter to ever go through this pain. I wanted to say that what was wrong is wrong.'
Despite his hardships, Park was described as a 'doting father' who always prioritized his daughter. His wife, upon learning about her husband's tragic past, said, 'I was heartbroken because I wondered how hard it must have been for him.' Based on recent social media posts, Jiyu appears to have made it through her surgeries and is now a happy and healthy little girl.
Park started his career with a small role in the 1998 film Shiri. He went on to star in dozens of films and Korean dramas, primarily in small supporting roles and bit parts. While he never reached A-list status, Park became famous after a minor scene of him spitting out orange juice became a viral meme in Asia. The meme's popularity earned him multiple appearances on popular Korean variety shows and helped raise his profile.
Before his death, he was focused on opening his own restaurant. After the news broke, fans flooded his wife's Instagram page with condolences. 'Leaving early leaving behind such a beautiful daughter and wife... This makes me so sad,' wrote one fan. 'Jiyu's father, may his soul rest in peace,' added another.
Park's wake will be held at Domin Funeral Hall in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province on Friday. His remains will pass through the Yongin Forest of Peace before being buried at Woosung Memorial Park.
