The 32-year-old singer and actress was discovered in the early hours of January 1st, shortly after posting a disturbing “goodbye” message on her social media account. According to local reports, rescuers reached her approximately two hours after her final post, while she was drifting in and out of consciousness.
A history of trauma and legal hurdles
In the messages posted before and after her rescue, Kwon detailed the psychological distress that led to her crisis. She spoke candidly about a childhood marked by domestic violence and extreme financial hardship, revealing that she had worked from a young age to support her mother and sister after her father refused to pay child support.
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She also addressed more recent legal frustrations. Kwon has long maintained that she was a victim of sexual assault as a teenager, but shared that while the assault was acknowledged by authorities, the resulting injuries could not be proven in court. “I have no material evidence, no CCTV, no recordings,” she wrote, explaining the difficulty of pursuing justice for incidents that happened years ago.Kwo
Bullying allegations and industry pressure
Kwon first made global headlines in 2020 when she alleged she had been bullied for over a decade by a fellow group member during her time with AOA. The allegations led to significant changes within the group’s line-up but also saw Kwon become a target for online vitriol.
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In her recent posts, she admitted the toll that public perception has taken on her. She described herself as feeling like “the girl who cried wolf” and expressed a deep sense of being wronged by both past associates and malicious commenters. Her current management has announced a “war” on these commenters, stating that the spread of false information and personal attacks has caused “serious psychological harm.”
Kwon post has since been deleted.
Friends and peers continue to describe Kwon as a gentle person who has been pushed to a breaking point by a series of unfortunate events. As she recovers, the conversation in Seoul has once again turned to the lack of adequate support systems for young people in the high-pressure entertainment industry.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. You can reach out to the following organisations for support:
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In the UK: Call 111 or contact Samaritans at 116 123. You can also text SHOUT to 85258.
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In the US: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.
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In South Korea: Call the Korea Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109 (available 24 hours).
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In Singapore: Contact Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) at 1-767 or the Singapore Association for Mental Health at 1800-283-7019.
