Six months ago, the idol singer Goo Hara, had caused a commotion online when she posted "Goodbye" on her Instagram. She was then found unconscious at her apartment in Gangnam by several police officers on the midnight of May 30th. However, she was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital and was saved.
After the incident, Hara apologized to her fans saying, "I'm sorry for causing a fuss and to concern you all. I am now recovering from depression. I felt really bad about overlapping issues and I'm so sorry. From now on, I will make sure to always be healthy."
Goo Hara started her career by being a part of the Korean girl group Kara in 2008. After Kara disbanded, Hara started her solo career. Her first extended play record was "Alohara Can You Feel It?" which sky-rocketed to number 4 in Seoul's music charts. Aside from singing, Hara has also participated in several famous dramas like "City Hunter" and the reality show "On and Off."
Goo Hara, like her good friend Sulli, has been a victim of cyberbullying and has pleaded with the public before. In one instance, she asked everyone to please be more considerate and kind on the public comments they leave on social media websites.
Aside from cyberbullying, she also made headlines with her ex-boyfriend Choi Jong-bum. The latter has been blackmailing Hara with threats regarding the release of their sex tapes and other private photos. Hara took the matters to the police and was questioned for allegedly assaulting her ex-boyfriend. Through these issues, her fans and the public have always supported Hara.
Last October 14, Sulli, Hara's good friend was found dead due to suicide. The idol singer made an Instagram video apologizing to Sulli for not being to be in Korea when the friend needed her the most.
On October 14, Hara's fellow K Pop star Sulli was found dead at her home in Seongnam, Seoul, a month after she sparked controversy by accidentally revealing a nipple on Instagram.
Korean idol stars like Sulli and Hara got into the industry at a young age. They haven't experienced normal teenage things and are usually trained before adolescents. Their training also requires sacrifices and sweat not fit for children their age. These idol stars weren't exposed to normal growing environments and people think that this may also contribute to their early development of anxiety and depression.
Moreover, mental health issues are still considered taboo in Korea. Many people are dissuaded to go to a psychiatrist for a mental check-up. In 2017, Kim Jonghyun a famous K-pop star has also died due to depression. His last message was "I'm sorry. I am broken. I feel broken like from the inside. I cannot beat depression anymore. It has finally won over me."
Many Korean pop idols are experiencing depression and anxiety due to training, tight schedule, stalkers, and hateful comments, but through it all, everyone still expects these stars to fight it bravely and act like they're not affected. At the end of the day, even K-pop stars are people too. No matter how tough they look on the outside, they have feelings also.
They're supposed to be allowed to make mistakes, even show bad behavior sometimes. But instead, even a single mistake can lead to numerous online torture, bullying, and criticisms for years.
