"What happened to the genius pianist recognized by the world"… shock over Lim Dong-hyek's suicide attempt
World-renowned pianist Lim Dong-hyek left what appeared to be a suicide note on his social media and then attempted an extreme act, prompting police to rush to the scene in a tense situation. Fortunately, Lim Dong-hyek was rescued, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital, and is reported to be not in life-threatening condition.
At around 7 a.m. on the 16th, Lim Dong-hyek posted a long handwritten letter on his social account. In the letter he confessed, "I have suffered from severe depression while living my life as a performer," and "since 2015 I have taken antidepressants every single day." He went on, "Music was my everything," and hinted at an extreme act by writing, "There are materials that will be made public after I am gone."
After acquaintances and internet users who saw the post reported it, police and fire authorities rushed to a location in Seocho-dong, Seocho District, Seoul at around 8:30 a.m. the same day, and Lim Dong-hyek was safely rescued and transported to a nearby hospital. He is currently receiving treatment and is reported to be recovering.
In his handwritten letter, Lim Dong-hyek mentioned conflicts with his ex-wife, a person surnamed A, and another person, a person surnamed B, expressing resentment and psychological pain. He denied allegations related to obscene messages that had been raised in the past, saying "that is not true," and said the revelations and legal disputes surrounding him had become a significant mental burden.
However, regarding the part where he received a fine for prostitution charges, he admitted, "I was wrong," while expressing resentment about the circumstances and background of the case. He said, "My mind and body collapsed in all of this, and I am taking dozens of pills a day," and complained of extreme loneliness and depressive symptoms.
When the news broke, public interest naturally turned to "who is Lim Dong-hyek." Lim Dong-hyek is referred to as a "genius pianist" in the classical music world. He gained international fame by placing in all of the so-called three major international music competitions—the Queen Elizabeth Competition, the International Chopin Piano Competition, and the Tchaikovsky International Competition. He has been praised for performances described as "the performer himself is the music," especially for his delicate yet profound interpretations and emotionally resonant playing.
Despite his dazzling list of awards, he has repeatedly revealed in interviews that he has consistently suffered inner pain and depression. After the news spread, online voices of concern and sorrow poured in. Internet users reacted, "It's hard to believe a pianist recognized by the world bore this pain alone," "It reminds us that success on stage and personal life are entirely different issues," and "Please recover and return to music." Some argued that "the controversies, trials and public pressure pushed one person too far," calling for social reflection.
Lim Dong-hyek is currently receiving treatment under medical supervision. As calls for his recovery and stability continue, many have sent messages of support saying, "We will wait for the day his music reverberates through the world again."
[Photo] Lim Dong-hyek SNS
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