In the last post on Instagram before leaving his life, Kpop idol Goo Hara posted a selfie photo with the simple caption: "Good night".

The body of Goo Hara, a former member of South Korean boy band KARA, was found on November 24 at his home in Cheongdam, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Seoul. Police are investigating the cause of death, while Yonhap news agency reported the government is still considering it as a suicide.

In May, the 28-year-old idol apologized to fans "for causing anxiety and gossip" after being unconscious and hospitalized, allegedly unsuccessful suicide attempt. Hara said she "feels suffering due to some problem", but is slowly recovering and will try to appear healthy.

Last year, Hara's ex-boyfriend, a hairdresser named Choi Jong-bum, assaulted and threatened to end her career by launching "black videos" after they broke up. Choi in August was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years on probation for a range of crimes, including blackmail. However, this incident made Hara an online target. Before her death, her Instagram account was filled with hateful comments about her plastic surgery appearance as well as the past with Choi.

Hara's departure shocked many people when it took place only 42 days after the death of former f (x) member Sulli (real name Choi Jin-ri). "She was young, beautiful, rich, talented, famous, living in a dream building, but then she committed suicide there. People in this country live by mutual hatred and envy. the reason South Korea is also known as hell, "said a commenter on Naver about Hara's death.

Police concluded that Sulli, Hara's best friend, died of suicide. Sulli was also a victim of negative comments surrounding her relationship with Choiza, a singer 14 years older than her, as well as photos of no bra, though she explained that it made her uncomfortable. And this is my personal choice.

"Media and social networks are constantly touting celebrity relationships, scandals, rumors. It crept into their lives and led to tragic endings, but this incident continued. become the perfect fuel for communications machines, "said Emanuel Pastreich, director of Korea for the Asia Society's non-governmental organization, Asia.

Sulli did not hesitate to express her thoughts about the hatred she suffered when participating in the TV show "The Night of Hate Comments", where celebrities read malicious comments about themselves. However, this seems to make the mental health of the 25-year-old female idol worse.

"Everyone likes to talk and Sulli easily becomes the target. She acted vigorously when disclosing the issues, but in the end it seems that she still thinks she has no way out. It must be a lot. Meanwhile, people still want more information and rumors, "said lawyer Han Ye-jung in Seoul.

After Sulli's death, some Korean stars were more open about the pressures they faced when repeatedly being scrutinized. "Celebrities have to smile even when they have insomnia. They have to be sexy but not have sex, be tough but not aggressive," Shinhwa member Kim Dong-wan said. .

As the feminist movement flourished in South Korea after the Supreme Court declared legalization of abortion, the wave against it also intensified, putting more female stars under pressure. Sulli's public support for this ruling led to mixed comments. Other female idols are also hated for reading a book that is said to support feminism, or carrying a phone case that says, "Women can do everything".

Despite emotional suffering, seeking medical help on depression as well as other psychological issues is still stigmatized in Korean society. This situation occurs worldwide, but is especially serious in the country with the highest suicide rate among members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

"Korean culture considers suicide a personal problem, so it is difficult to ensure funding for expanding community education programs in seeking mental health help, as well as organizing training programs. create doctors and other related service providers, "said the Korean Medical Journal.

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Suicide Prevention Center released in June, the number of deaths from suicide in the country in 2017 was 12,463, down 4.8% from the year. 2016 and a significant reduction compared to 15,906 people in 2011.

However, while the death rate due to suicide decreases in all age groups, ages 20 to 29 remain unchanged. 44.8% of deaths in the 20s in Korea are due to suicide. According to the 2017 National Police Agency statistics, psychological problems are the most common reason for suicide among people aged 21-30, accounting for 40.1%, far exceeding the cause of financial difficulties. major and trouble in relationships.

"We have to be careful about everything, endure the pain of not being able to share even with friends and family. You all have the right to freedom of speech, but please look at yourself before posting a comment. can you hate it? ", Goo Hara shared earlier this year.

The death of the young girl once again sparked a wave of demand for the Korean government to punish more severely with malicious commentators and cybercriminals. The petition gathered more than 20,000 signatures in less than a day. "Not long ago, we also lost a person because of the hate comments. This cannot happen again. Please protect the people from the criticism that is spreading like a virus," the application wrote.

After Sulli passed away, people also filed a petition on the Blue House website and proposed the "Sulli Act" to commemorate the idol, which made ID verification requirements for the comments. networks, as well as penalties for journalists who violate celebrity privacy and spread damaging rumors. South Korean parliamentarians are also pushing for laws that address this "anonymous hate" issue.

The Korean Entertainment Management Association has also declared more drastic action to protect celebrities. "We will bring the malicious commentators to the light, and send recommendations to the investigating agencies and the government to punish them severely," the association said.

Just like after Sulli passed away, the Korean entertainment industry seems to have subsided with Goo Hara's departure and appeared to mourn many comments online. However, expert Pastreich said the situation would not last long and the "scandal thirst" of the public will promote targeted communication to another star.