Model and actor Ye Hak-young has been dead for three years.
The late Ye Hak-young died on Dec. 24, 2022. He was 40. The cause of death was not disclosed. The sudden news was delivered through an acquaintance's personal channel, surprising many.
At the time, an acquaintance wrote, "An older brother who always just laughed even at passing remarks, I hope you go to a good place. Many people, come and say good things and leave," leaving a message of condolence. Friends and colleagues who received the news mourned the late figure in deep sorrow. Actor Oh Byung-jin, formerly of the group Ocean, said, "Be sure to be happy in heaven. My heart hurts so much," expressing his regret.
The late Ye Hak-young debuted as a model through the 2001 Seoul Collection, taking his first steps into the entertainment industry. He began acting in 2003 through the MBC sitcom Nonstop 4. He appeared in films such as The Millionaire's First Love, Anatomy Classroom, Father and Mari and I, Bellybutton, and The Pharisee, gaining recognition on the screen as well.
However, in 2009 he was put on trial on charges of drug use and was sentenced to two years and six months in prison with a four-year suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service. Because of this case, he was placed on the list of entertainers barred from appearing on KBS, EBS and MBC, which severely restricted his activities.
After about three years of self-reflection, he returned in 2011 on Mnet's Serenade Operation, and the following year he also appeared on tvN's Korea's Got Talent 2, but he did not receive as much attention as before.
Living quietly, he was later involved in another controversy. In Feb. 2018 he was found asleep in his parked car near Guryong Village in Gangnam District, Seoul, and was caught for drunk driving; his blood alcohol concentration at the time was 0.067%, the level for license suspension. In July 2019 he was caught again in a drunk-driving crackdown while riding a motorcycle, and that also registered 0.048%, the level for license suspension.
After consecutive controversies he lived without continuing activities, and three years later his sudden death brought his name back before the public.
The late Ye Hak-young, who quietly ended his life after a glamorous debut and turbulent times. Even now, as time passes, his name is remembered with regret.
[Photo] Ye Hak-young
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