'Produce 101' S2 Lee Jihan Dies at 25 in Itaewon Stampede, New Drama Supposed To Air in 2023
Lee Jihan, a former trainee whose name arose during Mnet's "Produce 101" Season 2 revealed to be among the 154 people who died during the Itaewon stampede. According to reports, he was set to star in a new drama in 2023 if not for the tragic incident.
Lee Jihan Passes Away During Itaewon Crowd Crush
On October 30, 935 Entertainment, the agency of actor and former idol trainee Lee Jihan confirmed that the star died in the Itaewon disaster which took place on the 29th. He was 25 years old.
According to its official statement, released by Exports News:
"It is true that Lee Jihan died in an accident in Itaewon on October 29.
We hoped it wasn't true but we were very surprised when we heard the news. We are being very careful because his family is suffering immense grief right now. May he rest in peace."
In particular, the news of Lee's death was first known by the public when his former co-participants in Mnet's "Produce 101" Season 2, which created WANNA ONE broke the news on Instagram. Some of them include Park Hee Seok, Cho Jin Hyung, and Kim Do Hyun.
They wrote:
"Jihan has left this world and gone to a comfortable place. We ask fans to bid your goodbye to him on his final path.”
Kim Do Hyun added:
"I pray for the repose of all those who went too far and too early due to the Itaewon disaster. I dare not understand the feelings of the bereaved families left behind, but I would like to express my deep condolences like this."
Lee Jihan, who was born in 1998, made his face known by participating in Mnet's "Produce 101 Season 2" in 2017. He initially aspired to become a K-pop idol, but he, later on, continued the path of becoming an actor by debuting with the web drama, "Today Was Another Nam Hyun Day" in 2019.
Lee Jihan Supposed To Appear In New MBC 2023 Drama– Here's What Will Happen
According to another news, the young idol trainee turned actor was scheduled to appear in a new drama to premiere in 2023.
The late Lee Jihan even filmed his part last month after confirming his appearance in MBC's new drama "Season of Kok-Du." Lee was set to star along with Kim Jung Hyun and Lim Soo Hyang.
The later actor supposedly plays the role of the actress's ex-boyfriend Jeong Dun.
As a result of an interview with MBC, the drama will halt filming, saying:
"The filming of 'Season of Kok-Du' is currently suspended. We will resume filming after reorganization, but nothing has been set about the schedule so far."
Meanwhile, the drama is a fantasy romance in which a grim reaper (Kim Jung Hyun), who comes down to the earth every 99 years to punish humans, meets the mysterious physician, Han Gye Jeol (Lim Soo Hyang).
READ MORE: SM Entertainment Cancels Halloween Party Following Itaewon Stampede– What Happened?
For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.
KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Eunice Dawson.
