A K-pop superfan and influencer killed herself while on a TikTok livestream after online abuse from other fans.
Mina Chan, believed to be 26, was found dead in her Seoul home in the Yongsan District at 5.33am on Wednesday, August 5.
Police were called after her friends raised concerns that she was going to self-harm during a live broadcast to her 80,000 TikTok followers.
Her sister later confirmed the death on Instagram in an emotional statement, calling the loss ‘heartbreaking’.
‘My beloved older sister, who was always kind and warm to everyone she met, has passed away,’ she wrote.
Chan, originally from Japan, became a well-known influencer within the K-pop group Enhypen’s fanbase, often appearing at shows and fan events.
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She became the focus of backlash after reportedly trying to give member Ni-ki, 20, flowers at a concert in the USA in July.
Unable to reach him, she tried to hand them to another member, Sunoo, 23, and asked him to pass the flowers on in a moment that quickly went viral.
Some claimed she was ‘yelling’ at the singer, while others said she looked annoyed and went on her phone after the failed gift-giving.
Later, Ni-ki, real name Nishimura Riki, said on a live stream that he was disappointed in concertgoers who ‘only want attention’ for themselves but did not mention Chan by name.
‘Everywhere we go there are a few people who really want us to notice them,’ he said in the stream.’
She issued an apology, saying she also had flowers for Sunoo, and took pictures with both singers after the show.
‘I’m truly sorry. I feel so apologetic toward Sunoo and all the Sunoo fans,’ Chan wrote on X.
‘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 behaviour I exhibited in America.’
Reportedly, the influencer had become the subject of intense online abuse, resulting in her closing her fan account on August 1.
While Ni-ki’s official fan site denied that his comments were targeting one person, no official statement has been released by him or Enhypen.
Police in South Korea have not made a statement on the cause of death but The Sun reported that an investigation is underway.
It is not known if the backlash is linked to her suicide. Cyber defamation and public insult are both criminal offences in South Korea, carrying jail sentences and hefty fines.
Days after the death, Enhypen returned to the stage in Busan on Saturday, August 8, for their Blood Saga world tour.
Ni-ki told fans: ‘ENGENE [the fanbase] and us really share the same feelings, so let’s create more unforgettable memories together.’
Tributes have continued to be shared for Chan but Enhypen and Ni-ki have not publicly commented on the influencer’s death.
Metro has reached out to Enhypen’s team for comment.
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