Choi Sung Bong dies at 33 after committing suicide

Choi Sung-bong, a famous Korean singer who gained notoriety after placing second on Korea's Got Talent in 2011, committed suicide, according to Seoul police on Wednesday. He was 33.

Police discovered the singer dead at his home in the Yeoksam-dong neighbourhood in southern Seoul at 9:41 a.m. on Tuesday, according to The Korea Times.

Korea's Got Talent featured the controversial singer prominently in 2011. In addition, he signed a record deal with the Korean Label Bong Bong Company. Later, he released a best-selling biography detailing his rise from a life of poverty to an online celebrity.

His career, however, took a gloomy turn in 2021 as he launched a fundraising effort, claiming he was battling various cancers and needed money for treatment. It was eventually discovered to be a fraud.

Additionally, the musician admitted his errors and pledged to repay the donations he had collected.

According to the news source, police suspect that the artist committed suicide in light of the circumstances at his home and a note he posted the day before on his YouTube channel that appeared to be a suicide note.

The note read, "I sincerely apologize to all who suffered from my foolish mistake." The note added that all donations were returned.