Model Kim Da-ul has been gone for 16 years.
Kim Da-ul died on Nov. 19, 2009, at her home in Paris, France.
At that time, her domestic agency, Esteem, said "She seemed to have reached the highest position and did not want to show herself declining. The late artist, who pursued many artistic activities from a young age, such as fashion modeling, painting, writing, documentary film production and fashion design, lived a fierce life to achieve everything and felt anxiety about the life that remained. She experienced great mental turmoil and wandering because of a sense of loss about not being able to live an ordinary life like her peers, the gap between the expectations she had before reaching the top and the feelings after reaching the top," the agency said.
The agency added, "The late artist devoted herself to everything she undertook with the pure passion of an artist, and she had strong aversion to things being perceived with a commercial mindset. It is presumed she was deeply hurt by the reality that this world is often unrewarding unless fame and various commercial conditions are connected."
In response to the news of Kim Da-ul's passing, G-Dragon mourned, "I pray for Kim Da-ul's soul. Da-ul, rest in peace. I will pray for you. Goodbye," and models Lee Hyuk-soo and Hyebak, among others, also paid tribute to her.
In a program aired one year after her death, senior model Han Hye-jin tearfully said, "I feel guilty about Kim Da-ul's death. As an older sister I should have at least bought her meals more often," evoking sadness.
Kim Da-ul began modeling at age 13 and attracted attention. She gained recognition on the world's four major runways, including New York and Paris, and was spotlighted. In 2008 she was selected in New York Magazine's "Top 10 models to watch," and she was recognized as a global model, winning the fashion model award at the Asia Model Festival Awards.
[Photo] Provided by Olive
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