Fan dies by suicide during live stream after K-pop group harassment

A 26-year-old Japanese fan, known online as Mina, died by suicide during a TikTok live stream in Seoul after enduring severe online harassment. Mina, a dedicated fan of the K-pop group ENHYPEN and a particularly ardent supporter of member Ni-ki, was reportedly subjected to relentless cyberbullying.

Mina, who studied in South Korea, was known within the ENHYPEN fan community, often attending fan sign events where she was recognized by the members. Her interactions with the group, however, led to jealousy and animosity from some fans. Accusations, including alleged past work in hostessing, further fueled the online attacks.

The situation intensified following a July concert. Mina, holding a sunflower prop, attempted to have Ni-ki's bandmate Sunoo pass it to him, but Ni-ki did not accept it. Later, Ni-ki mentioned in a live stream that he wished to acknowledge all fans but some were solely seeking attention, which many interpreted as a reference to Mina. Her social media was subsequently flooded with criticism, accusing her of disrespecting the performance and crossing boundaries.

“

I apologize for my selfish desire to get a two-shot of Sunoo and Ni-ki. I thought Sunoo knew I liked Sunki, so I prepared sunflowers for Sunoo and roses for Ni-ki. My action of asking Sunoo to pass the sunflowers to Ni-ki was my own selfish wish.

Mina posted an apology on X (formerly Twitter) on August 1, explaining her actions were driven by a desire for a photo with Ni-ki and Sunoo, acknowledging her "selfishness" and apologizing to Sunoo and his fans. She also admitted to misjudging her proximity to the members due to frequent fan sign attendance. However, the apology, accompanied by a photo with Ni-ki, further enraged some fans who perceived it as boastful, intensifying the online attacks.

Unable to withstand the continuous barrage of hateful comments, Mina began a live stream early on August 5. During the broadcast, she appeared distressed and repeatedly cried out in fear. Tragically, she took her own life on camera, shocking viewers. Police and friends arrived at her location shortly after, with a poignant image of an officer reaching to turn off the camera circulating online. Her death at 26 has ignited a fervent online debate about the devastating impact of cyberbullying.

“

I am so sorry. I am so sorry. It's so scary.