It has already been 15 years since actor Park Yong-ha passed away.
Park Yong-ha was found dead at his home in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on June 30, 2010, at the age of 33. At the time, police estimated that there were no economic difficulties, depression, or medical history. They believed he was under significant stress due to his father's battle with cancer and juggling his entertainment activities and business.
Debuting in 1994 through MBC's "Theme Theater," Park Yong-ha gained much love through productions such as "Once Again," "Love is for Anyone," and "Winter Sonata." Especially after "Winter Sonata," Park quickly rose to stardom, enjoying great popularity not only in Korea but also in Japan.
He also achieved great success as a singer, setting a record as the first Korean to win the Japanese Golden Disc Award four consecutive times, and in 2008, he continued his stable acting career by showcasing natural yet captivating performances through the drama "On Air." In 2009, he appeared in the film "Operation" and continued his activities by releasing the album "Stars" on June 9, 2010.
Amid the news of the passing, the entertainment industry was in shock. Colleagues from the entertainment world who worked with him, including Bae Yong-joon, Lee Byung-hun, So Ji-sub, Song Seung-heon, Choi Ji-woo, Kim Hyung-jun from Taesaja, Kim Jun-hee, Kim Jae-joong, Park Kwang-hyun, Ryu Won, Kim Jin-pyo, Jo Kwon, Shim Ji-ho, Kim Hyun-joo, U-Jin, Shin Seung-hoon, Seven, and Ryu Si-won, visited the mortuary to pay their respects.
In particular, So Ji-sub, known to be a close friend, was seen weeping and reportedly covered the entire expense for the funeral for the bereaved family. Kim Jae-joong also visits the columbarium of the deceased every year to pay tribute, and this year, one day before the 15th anniversary, he visited the columbarium on the 29th and expressed his nostalgia, saying, "It still doesn't feel real that it has already been 15 years since my brother left. The world changes quickly, and precious memories from the past can fade over time, but my brother still holds a warm place in many people's hearts."
Kim Jae-joong further stated, "Who could forget your warm smile, like today's weather, and the passionate zeal you showed?" and added, "Although it was short, I won't forget the warmth of the inspiration I received from you, and I will try hard to become someone who can spread warmth to more people."
It has already been 15 years since Park Yong-ha left, but he remains a star conveying nostalgia in the hearts of many.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]