A 26-year-old Japanese fan of K-pop group ENHYPEN, known online as Mina Chan, has reportedly died by suicide after facing intense online criticism and harassment.
Mina, who was based in Seoul, was known within the ENGENE fandom for her support of ENHYPEN member Nishimura Riki, better known as Ni-ki. She had built a sizable online following through social media accounts dedicated to the group and regularly attended concerts and fan-signing events.
MINA (@sweeter_nk)’s sister Min-hee has confirmed on IG that her sister has passed away
“I received this heartbreaking news this morning.. I don’t plan to share any further info regarding my sister through this account”
Min-hee requests people to refrain from any speculation pic.twitter.com/7QAwsc85r0
— khloe⁷ saw bts (@younjungllit) August 5, 2026
Her reported death has sparked renewed concerns about cyberbullying, toxic fandom culture and the way online criticism can escalate when fans collectively target an individual.
How the controversy began
According to media reports, the controversy began after an ENHYPEN concert in late July. Mina had reportedly asked member Sunoo to pass a sunflower prop to Ni-ki during the performance, hoping to create an interaction between the two members.
However, Ni-ki was interacting with other fans at the time, and the bouquet was ultimately not passed to him.
Read more: K-Pop Is Completely Dominating the American Music Awards Nominations This Year
Mina was reportedly upset by the incident. During the concert, she allegedly began looking at her phone and taking selfies, behaviour that drew criticism from other fans.
Ni-ki later addressed concert interactions during a livestream, saying that the venue should be a place where everyone who comes can feel happy and that he was disappointed in those who just try to be noticed.
Although Ni-ki did not mention Mina by name, many fans interpreted the remarks as an indirect reference to her. Ni-ki reportedly expressed disappointment that some people appeared to prioritise personal interactions with the members over enjoying the concert. His comments were subsequently shared across social media, prompting speculation over who he was referring to.
Ни-ки говорит, что концерт — это место, где абсолютно все должны вместе получать счастливые эмоции.
Каждая группа говорила подобные слова своим фанатам.
Он просто хотел, чтобы все веселились вместе, а не просто смотрели на них и приходили только ради внимания.
На каждом… pic.twitter.com/75OLM6Me43— Хана | ENHYPEN IS 7 (@doidissss) August 6, 2026
【快訊】西村力的大戶粉絲 Mina 醬，傳出在直播中自○⋯⋯
Mina 醬過去曾在日式酒店工作，後來開始追 ENHYPEN 的日本成員 NI-KI 西村力。她不但經常站上海外巡演最前排，還投入大量金錢追星，甚至成為連成員都認得的知名粉絲。
某次演出中，她拜託 SUNOO… https://t.co/xqtZE8CWhm pic.twitter.com/lQNHOoZXVF
— 蘋果派 애플파이 ❤️🔥 (@applepiehouse) August 6, 2026
The incident later attracted criticism within the ENGENE fandom. Some fans accused Mina of attempting to draw attention to herself or disrupting the atmosphere of the event. She also faced scrutiny over her interactions with ENHYPEN members during a fan-signing event in the United States.
Neither Ni-ki nor ENHYPEN’s management agency has confirmed that the remarks were directed at Mina.
Mina’s last post
Following the livestream and the criticism directed at her, Mina announced that she would close her social media account and step away from the fandom.
In a lengthy post written in Japanese, she apologised for her behaviour at the concert and fan-signing events. A translated portion of her message read:
“By attending ENHYPEN’s fansigns multiple times, I had deluded myself into thinking I was closer to the members than I actually was. I deeply regret the rude behavior I exhibited in America. I ruined the atmosphere of the venue by prioritizing my own desire to meet Niki over the precious time Niki, who loves America so much, deserved. I’m truly sorry.”
Mina reportedly wrote that repeatedly attending fan events had caused her to believe she was closer to the members than she actually was. She also expressed regret over prioritising her desire to meet Ni-ki and said she may have relied too heavily on Sunoo’s kindness.
This is heartbreaking 💔 Mina didn’t deserve this. No one does! And those ENHYPEN worshippers who piled on her until she reached this point should know that they are all murderers.
Her last video 💔
“There’s no more fun left…”
“I can’t do it anymore…”
“I’m scared… I’m… https://t.co/Lo5lP11qDl pic.twitter.com/LFMttPakYi— Movie Guy 🎬 (@BadGuy1g) August 5, 2026
She thanked her followers and indicated that she intended to leave the online fan community. However, reports said that criticism continued after the apology.
Read more: ENHYPEN’s Heeseung Exits Group to Pursue Solo Career
Mina also shared screenshots of abusive messages on social media. One message reportedly told her to stop being a fan and claimed that the members were only kind to her because it was part of their job. Her responses and the screenshots later circulated widely online.
Police investigate reported death
Reports said a friend contacted police in Seoul after seeing Mina in serious distress during a livestream from her home. While viewers reportedly also attempted to seek help, others continued with the bullying.
“not u crying and taking pills on LIVE bye,” wrote one person. “are you trying to make yourself seem like the victim? you’ve got some horrible acting,” said another.
Mina reportedly hanged herself during the livestream.
A Japanese ENHYPEN fan named Mina reportedly died by suicide while livestreaming on X and TikTok after receiving a wave of hateful comments.
It was also reported that ni-ki WENT ON LIVE SHADING HER HEAVILY saying how she was killing the mood of the concert because she told sunoo… pic.twitter.com/lNsxmAlbC2
— Chioma (@LogicAndLies) August 5, 2026
Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the reported death.
Details circulating online have not all been independently verified. The link between Ni-ki’s livestream comments, the subsequent online backlash and Mina’s reported death remains based on media reports, social media posts and fan accounts.
Toxic fandom under scrutiny
The incident has divided ENGENEs and prompted debate over accountability in online fan communities.
Some fans have defended Ni-ki, arguing that he did not identify Mina and should not be blamed for comments that may have been interpreted by others. Others have argued that vague remarks by public figures can be amplified by fan communities and used to direct harassment at a specific individual.
Cyrus Ng, a researcher and content creator specialising in K-pop and Korean culture, told The Standard that competition for an idol’s attention can contribute to conflict between fans.
“Some fans are not only seeking to support idols, but also hoping to gain unique recognition,” Ng said. “When fans perceive others as crossing boundaries, collective criticism can turn into online attacks.”
Ng added that comments made by idols may be amplified and used by fans to engage in “online public shaming.” He called for stronger moderation by social media platforms and clearer guidance from entertainment agencies on the relationship between artists and fans.
Read more: “Bring back Heeseung!”: ENHYPEN to Kick Off New World Tour — But Fans Aren’t Happy
“Without proper guidance, fandom communities can become increasingly toxic,” he said.
Mina’s reported death has intensified calls for greater empathy and stronger action against cyberbullying. The case also highlights the potential consequences of online pile-ons, particularly when speculation is treated as fact and criticism escalates into sustained personal attacks.
This article discusses suicide and online bullying. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing thoughts of suicide, contact local emergency services or a crisis support service in your country.
