Pianist Lim Dong-hyek, 41, who posted a message on social media (SNS) hinting at an extreme choice, was rescued by police.
Seocho Police Station in Seoul said it responded to a report around 8:30 a.m. on the 16th that "there are concerns about Lim's safety," and rescued Lim at an undisclosed location in Seocho-dong. Lim was taken to a nearby hospital and was said to be in a condition not life-threatening.
At about 7:34 a.m. that day, Lim posted on his SNS, "I have suffered from severe depression while living my whole life as a performer," and "I was happy thanks to all of you, and I was grateful."
He added, "I may have found it harder to endure because I am, by nature, someone who feels very lonely. So I relied heavily on alcohol and also enjoyed drinking and dancing. But in the end, music was everything to me," and "I may be somewhat vulgar, but my music is not."
He concluded the post by saying, "I wish happiness and good fortune to all of you. I was happy thanks to all of you, and I was grateful." The post bore what appeared to be Lim's seal impression next to the date that read "Dec. 16, 5:35 a.m."
Lim is a performer who placed in all of the so-called world's three major piano competitions—the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Queen Elisabeth International Competitions—and is regarded as the first figure in Korea's classical music scene to build a popular fandom.
However, he suspended his activities after becoming embroiled in controversy over his private life. Lim was brought to trial on charges of buying sex at a massage parlor in Gangnam District, Seoul, and was fined 1 million won in September.
In 2022, he was also accused by his ex-wife, who said, "In 2019, when we were in divorce proceedings, and in 2021, after the divorce, I received obscene messages from Lim via KakaoTalk and email." Prosecutors said, "As this incident occurred during divorce proceedings, it is difficult to deem there was a sexual purpose," and cleared Lim of charges in 2023.