Model Kim Jong-seok has suddenly passed away, and his sister has shared her stance regarding the rumors surrounding her brother's death.
The late Kim Jong-seok's sister published a lengthy post and audio transcript on social media on the 8th, stating, "First, I want to correct the articles and community posts that are not true at present. Firstly, the claim that 'he rushed to his girlfriend's house while drunk, caused a disturbance with a soju bottle, and jumped off after police were dispatched' is not true."
She continued, "At the time, Jong-seok and his girlfriend were each having drinks with acquaintances separately, and concerned for his girlfriend because he could not reach her, Jong-seok went to her house with a friend." She explained, "The various friends, along with her sister and her sister's boyfriend, were asleep, and Jong-seok was chatting and joking with another male acquaintance who was awake among them."
She further explained, "After the girlfriend woke up, there was no unilateral assault or disturbance from Jong-seok, but rather a simple argument between the couple. During the process of mediating that argument, as others in the group began to show signs of escalating tension, Jong-seok's friend broke a soju bottle to prevent a fight, which led to a police report being filed."
Kim Jong-seok's sister noted, "Jong-seok had been struggling financially and emotionally due to an investment scam perpetrated by a trusted acquaintance. He had lost all his assets and was in a situation where debts incurred due to the scam made life difficult. I think he was very fatigued by such circumstances and perhaps had many thoughts on his mind as a result." She added, "The events that happened that day and feelings of betrayal by trusted people likely drove him to make this choice amid a situation that was exhausting and difficult. It seems he just let everything go."
In particular, Kim Jong-seok's sister said about the rumors surrounding her brother's death, "It was an act of defamation against the deceased by leaving Jong-seok's life to the judgment of internet users and creating articles that are a sensational mishmash of unverified aspects." She requested, "I urge you to refrain from publishing false articles and malicious comments that differ from the facts."
Kim Jong-seok suddenly passed away on the 4th, at the age of 29. He was a model active in the beauty and fashion industry, well known as the model for the men's beauty brand Dasu. In 2022, he also appeared in the cable channel tvN dating reality show 'Skip.'
Below is the full statement from Kim Jong-seok's sister.
Hello, this is Jong-seok's sister.
Following the previous post, I have something important to say, so I am writing this short piece.
First and foremost, I want to correct the articles and community posts that are not true at present.
Firstly, the claim that 'he rushed to his girlfriend's house while drunk, caused a disturbance with a soju bottle, and jumped off after police were dispatched' is not true.
At the time, Jong-seok and his girlfriend were each having drinks with acquaintances (Jong-seok with a hometown friend, and the girlfriend with her sister, her sister's boyfriend, and another male friend) separately, and concerned for his girlfriend because he could not reach her, Jong-seok went to her house with a friend.
The girlfriend, her sister, and her sister's boyfriend were asleep, and Jong-seok was chatting and joking with another male acquaintance who was awake among them.
Later, when the girlfriend woke up, there was no unilateral assault or disturbance from Jong-seok; instead, there was a simple argument between the couple.
During the process of mediating that argument, as others in the group began to show signs of escalating tension, Jong-seok's friend broke a soju bottle to prevent a fight, which led to a police report being filed.
It is also not true that he ran away or evaded when the police arrived. I will post the edited audio transcript from the police, the edited audio transcript from Jong-seok's friend, and the conversation with the girlfriend as well as the contents from the sister's KakaoTalk messages from that day. (I will provide the sister's transcript if needed.)
Additionally, Jong-seok was financially and emotionally struggling due to an investment scam perpetrated by a trusted acquaintance. He lost all his assets and was in a situation where debts from the scam made it difficult to live. I think he was very fatigued from such circumstances and might have been deeply troubled as well.
It appears that this choice was made due to feelings of emptiness and various thoughts stemming from the events that occurred that day and feelings of betrayal by trusted individuals, which made the situation exhausting and difficult. It seems he just let everything go.
Initially, unverified portions were sensationalized into articles that defamed Jong-seok's life, leaving it to the judgment of internet users.
Jong-seok's family, friends, and those who knew him are feeling wronged and hurt, sharing in this collective pain.
I earnestly request that you refrain from publishing false articles and malicious comments that deviate from the truth. We are currently taking action against malicious comments, and we plan to report any future defamatory rumors or slanderous comments immediately, so please stop the defamation and criticism against the deceased.
[Photo] Late Kim Jong-seok's social media.
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