SEOUL: The reported death of K-pop influencer Mina Chan, who had more than 80,000 followers on TikTok, has sparked an online debate over cyberbullying and harassment within fan communities.
Chan, 26, was reportedly found dead at her residence in Seoul’s Yongsan-gu district on August 5 after police received a call from an acquaintance at around 5:33am.
According to reports circulating online, Chan had been livestreaming shortly before her death and appeared distressed while asking authorities to intervene. The livestream was later removed from TikTok.
Her sister confirmed her death in an emotional social media message, describing Chan as a kind and warm person and asking people to remember her in their thoughts and prayers.
ENHYPEN controversy preceded her death
Chan’s reported death came weeks after she faced criticism online following an ENHYPEN concert in July.
A dedicated ENHYPEN fan, Chan had reportedly attended several fan-sign events involving the group. During the July concert, she attempted to have member Sunoo pass flowers to Japanese member Ni-Ki.
Ni-Ki later spoke during a livestream about feeling uncomfortable about an incident, although he did not identify Chan by name.
Following the incident, some fans accused Chan of crossing personal boundaries and seeking attention, leading to criticism across social media.
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Chan apologised amid online backlash
On July 31, Chan issued a public apology on X, formerly known as Twitter, acknowledging that her repeated attendance at ENHYPEN fan-sign events had influenced her perception of her relationship with the members.
She said she had mistakenly believed she was closer to the group than she actually was and expressed regret over what she described as inappropriate behaviour during an event in the United States.
Despite the apology, reports indicate that Chan continued to receive hostile comments from some users online.
Fans raise concerns over cyberbullying
Chan’s reported death has since triggered renewed criticism of online harassment and cyberbullying within K-pop fan communities.
Some fans have paid tribute to the influencer while condemning the hateful comments directed at her following the concert controversy.
The circumstances surrounding Chan’s death and the extent to which online harassment may have affected her remain matters of public discussion. Claims linking her death directly to the online backlash should not be treated as established fact unless confirmed by authorities or her family.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or feels unsafe, seek immediate help from local emergency services or a qualified mental-health professional.
