Two years after pianist Im Dong-hyuk poured out his feelings of injustice over past allegations of sending obscene photos, he shocked people by leaving a post that hinted at an extreme choice. It is all the more tragic that the controversies and psychological pain that continued even after he was cleared led to a precarious situation.
Earlier, in October 2023 Im Dong-hyuk wrote on his account, "Finally the day has come when I can say 'now I can speak' that I have waited and waited for," and posted a long message. At the time he lamented that regarding the allegations of sending obscene photos and messages surrounding him, "nearly 70 articles were reproduced at a copy-paste level and I suffered a character assassination."
Im Dong-hyuk said he was "very aggrieved but did not want to play the media game myself. I believed musicians should speak through their music," explaining why he chose silence throughout the investigation. He recalled that he "endured by repeating only that the truth will be revealed someday."
He actually received a "no charges (insufficient evidence)" disposition from the prosecution and emphasized his innocence by releasing the non-prosecution notice that proved it. Im Dong-hyuk said, "It was such an obvious result, but seeing a world where common sense does not apply made me anxious," and added, "There is physical evidence to prove the whole story of the case, but the truth is so ugly that I will swallow it," withholding further comment. Even so, he expressed the frustration he felt during the Me Too phase, saying, "The public sometimes thinks that once something becomes an issue, it's over regardless of the truth." He concluded the post by thanking the fans and fellow musicians who believed in him and waited.
But two years later, on Jan. 16, 2025, Im Dong-hyuk once again shocked the world by leaving a handwritten letter presumed to be a suicide note on his account. In the letter he confessed, "I have suffered from severe depression throughout my life as a performer. Since 2015 I have taken antidepressants every day without fail." He continued, "Music was my everything," and wrote, "There are materials that will be released after I am gone," hinting at an extreme choice. Police responded after acquaintances and internet users who saw the post reported it, and Im Dong-hyuk was rescued at a location in Seocho-dong and transported to a hospital. Fortunately, it was reported that his life was not in danger.
In the letter, Im Dong-hyuk mentioned conflicts with his ex-wife, a person surnamed A, and another person surnamed B, expressing feelings of injustice and psychological pain. He repeated that the allegation of sending obscene messages was "not true," and while admitting "I was wrong" regarding being fined for prostitution charges, he revealed complex emotions about the background of the case.
In particular he said, "I take about 20 pills a day including psychotropic drugs," and lamented, "I was very lonely and isolated." He honestly revealed his broken mental and physical state, saying, "I was not an angel, but this world was too harsh for me to live in." Im Dong-hyuk pleaded, "Please believe in my music. My music is not vulgar," and expressed his desire to remain a musician to the end as his identity.
Meanwhile, Im Dong-hyuk is a world-renowned pianist who swept the world's three major competitions — the Queen Elizabeth Competition, the International Chopin Piano Competition and the Tchaikovsky International Competition — and has been greatly loved on the international stage for his deep interpretations and humane performances. The long period of suffering hidden behind his dazzling fame is once again coming into focus.
※ If you have difficult-to-talk-about concerns such as depression or if a family member or acquaintance around you is experiencing these difficulties, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at the suicide prevention hotline ☎109, mental health counseling hotline ☎1577-0199, Hope Line ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, youth hotline ☎1388, youth mobile counseling app "I'll listen to everything," KakaoTalk and other services.
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