On the 10th, Professor Na posted on his social media, "I really liked Wheesung's songs. I would listen to his albums countless times," adding, "The loss of artists living in the same era seems to be an inevitable process as we age, but the cases of those who left this world early are even more heartbreaking. I pray for the repose of the deceased." He continued, "While the cause of death is not clearly established, I am most concerned about drug overdose, which makes it even more heartbreaking. I have been tirelessly advocating for more budget allocation for addiction rehabilitation facilities for several years. I've even mentioned this to the head of the Food and Drug Safety Agency. But since it hasn't happened, how on earth can we bring about change?" expressing his frustration.
The mention of drug addiction rehabilitation facilities by Professor Na is presumed to be due to the drug issues that troubled Wheesung.
Wheesung was indicted the following year for purchasing and habitually using propofol 12 times over a three-month period starting in September 2019. He was sentenced to one year in prison and two years probation in the first instance in March 2021, but the prosecution appealed, claiming the sentence was excessive. In the appellate trial held in October of the same year, he received the same sentence of one year in prison and two years probation, along with a fine of 60.5 million won, 40 hours of community service, and 40 hours of drug treatment lectures.
Wheesung held a Christmas concert two months after the sentencing in December 2021, and continued his activities as a singer by participating in drama OSTs. After that, he held a fan meeting and concert to celebrate his 20th anniversary debut, showing his battle against depression through music. In May of last year, he hinted at a comeback by saying he was preparing for 'REASLOW's first album,' and drew attention by stating on the 3rd, "I am making all the tracks 19+ and am currently about 40% complete, with a release planned for this winter."
In February of this year, he held a birthday celebration fan meeting titled 'Happy Whee's Day,' which sold out immediately after ticket sales opened, showcasing his enduring popularity. He was set to hold a joint concert with fellow singer KCM at the Daegu EXCO Auditorium on March 15, but his sudden death five days before the performance added to the sorrow.
Wheesung was found in a state of cardiac arrest at an apartment located in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, at 6:29 p.m. on the 10th. He was 43 years old. An autopsy on Wheesung's body is scheduled at the National Forensic Service (NFS) on the morning of the 12th. The NFS plans to investigate the exact cause of death, including whether drug use was involved.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]