Mother.F***King.F***ed. Shit. I can't believe this. Dude, you are such a great actor, why do you have to kill yourself? You are a very accomplished person as well. Oh my freaking god, I was really, a million and thousand time, really looking forward to see him in Love Song. I can't believe he is gone. My god, rest in peace Park Yong Ha. You stole my heart in Story of a Man, and it's one of the greatest drama I've ever seen in my life too.

May you rest in peace
Be in harmony and please be happy

after so many years of trailing kdramas, I still do not get it why these suicides?

i really liked him in Winter Sonata, On Air...

may he rest in peace.

Park Yong Ha is one of the best out there, seen him first time in winter sonata..and looking forward to his new one. What can we do? I'm also in a shock mood.

I had the same reaction as you javabeans: WHAT. I was really looking forward to Love Song too. He was a great actor and I will forever remember his wonderful role as Shin in Story of a Man.

May you rest in peace.

RIP Park Yong-ha. Be strong Park's mother.

Such sadness........I can't imagine the depths of despair that could lead anyone to this. What can one say?..... Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

still in shock~ (TT-TT)

really love his work on 'Story of a Man" and i just read the news bout upcoming drama 'Love Song' last night. and this morning suddenly i got this news~ (TT-TT)

depression really can force someone to take his/her own life~ :((

my deepest condolence for Park Yong Ha's family and friends~ May he Rest in Peace.

I've visited your site a few times tonight trying to get any news I can about Park Yong-ha death. Still cannot get a grip on this devastating news. Whatever his reasons may have been, I hope that he's resting in peace and I pray for his family. To lose someone suddenly like this must be heart breaking.

... I can't believe it. Everytime these headlines come up I can never bring myself to really take it in. It seems like this trend will never end.

I feel sorry that he had to take his own life to get away from whatever troubles he had. Hopefully the media will try to respect the families wishes and hope the best for his family.

RIP.

My prayers and sympathy are with PYH's family and friends. It is always shocking to lose a loved one earlier than expected, and even more so when a person's life is cut short by suicide.

A lot of people have been asking why suicide is so prevalent among Korean celebrities, but I can't help wonder whether these suicides manifest a greater prevalence of depression in Korean society predicated by a reluctance to acknowledge that depression is a mental health disorder. I'm not implying that Koreans inherently have a greater tendency toward depression than other ethnic groups, but that perhaps it appears more prevalent because depression is generally a taboo topic in Korean society. I don't know if anybody caught Tablo on CNN Asia, but he mentioned his bout with depression and about Korean society's tendency to "look the other way" and avoid addressing (or even acknowledging) depression, either through counseling or medication.

As a Korean who suffered depression (even attempting to take my own life once) and whose mother and sister both suffered bouts of depression, I wonder whether the reason that none of us immediately sought professional help is rooted in how Koreans (and I use “Koreans” generally) perceive depression. In any society, depression is always a sensitive topic and more needs to be done in teaching how to recognize signs of depression in ourselves and others, and importantly, what steps should be done to seek help. But my family (including myself for several years) refused to even acknowledge it. Example 1: I remember that on the day that I was discharged from the hospital after trying to commit suicide with sleeping pills, my parents drove me 4 hours away so that I wouldn’t miss a pre-arranged blind date with a potential Korean boyfriend. To say the least, it was f***ed up. Example 2: Several years later, my sister became depressed during her Internal Medicine residency and took several months off. I argued with my parents that she was suffering from depression and that she needed professional help. My father, on the other hand, thought that if she finished up her residency, she would be just fine. Again, denial. In the end, my sister did receive counseling, and I'm happy to report that she's a dedicated mom to my adorable nephew.

Some may think that it's selfish to commit suicide by leaving behind one's parents, husband/wife, siblings, or children, but I can say from personal experience that when you've reached that tipping point, you feel that there IS no other choice. As irrational as it may sound, I thought that my family and loved ones would be better off without me; in other words, I felt it would be selfish if I DIDN'T take my own life. Some also may say that depression reflects a "weakness" that can be rectified by exercise and diet -- I honestly don't know how to respond to those comments, except to say that Tom Cruise is looking for supporters. Depression is a mental health disorder and like other conditions, there is substantial scientific evidence of its biological root cause, so I'm not going to get into a nature vs. nurture argument.

One commenter noted that perhaps the extent of suicides among Korean celebrities is tied to pride and arrogance (in that Koreans are very cognizant about appearances), and there may be something to that theory. Koreans have a lot of pride for their country, and even though I was born in the U.S. and don’t have a lot of other ties to Korea, I felt that same pride when I watched Korea play in the World Cup games, watched Kim Yun-Ah skate at the Olympics, and read stories about the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, marveling how Korea became a leading industrialized nation through perseverance, hard work, and….yes …..national pride.

I also think that outward appearances are also important to Koreans. I’m talking about personal image, and not necessarily about clothes, cars, and personal wealth (although those are components of one’s self-image). Koreans often ask questions that Americans (including myself) may consider very personal, particularly when asked by a complete stranger or people you know on a passing basis (you know what I mean – How old are you? How come you’re not married yet?….Your poor parents! How much do you weigh? How much do you earn?). But they’re all about outward manifestations of oneself, so Koreans don’t really view them as “personal.” However, Koreans (at least my parents’ generation) don’t like talking about their feelings or personal problems.

So, it makes sense that a proud nation wouldn't want to talk about depression. I’m probably oversimplying this.

Anyway, sorry for the long rambling, but just wanted to throw in my 2 cents on this topic and provide a different perspective. Again, thoughts and prayers to PYH’s loved ones.

...

I don't even know what to say anymore. And I just heard about his new project in Love Song yesterday! =( This news is just so depressing and shocking.
And just when I finished crying over Takuya's passing (in jmovie, Boku no Hatsukoi kimi ni sasagu)... I see this. too shocking omg

Park Yong ha... noo T.T

so sad sad sad.

first saw him in winter sonata but love him in Loving You and Story of A Man. my kdrama addiction started with the endless love series, so this tragedy has a great impact in my life as a kdrama fan.

we'll miss you Park Yong Ha ♥ ♥ ♥

OMG....I started shaking when I read the headline....I'm in complete shock...wow...

This is really a very depressing news, may he rest in peace.

I was so saddened by this news. I screamed out "WHAT?" when I first saw the headline. My heart still feels so heavy.

May you rest in peace, Park Yong Ha. You'll be be missed.

I'll be saying my prayers for PYH and his family.

This is a very sad news. He is one of my favorite Korean actors, he will surely be missed a lot. I was looking forward to his new drama :( I will miss him.

this is so sad....park yong ha we will miss you...i will pray for you...may you rest in peace...

Ellie, thanks for sharing. I hope others read what you wrote.

sad news !
rest in peace , PYH !

Is this something to do with the culture that most Korean people result to suicide to solve their problems? What a waste of life.

WHAT?!

I think I'm in shock. Such horrible news.

Ellie, thank you for sharing what you and your family went through in your eloquent post. I've worked w/ patients suffering fr clinical depression early on in my career and for ignorant people to just equate someone being suicidal as an option infuriated me. depression involves an imbalance of chemicals traveling btn synapses ie spaces btn brain cells, i cant even control the amt of food I'm eating, or my wt, please enlighten me how on earth can u consciously control that and make 'choices' or 'options' .

**if anyone is going to post anything ignorant on depression or suicides, consider yourself warned, i'm nasty and i bite bad, esp in the mood i'm in now!**

I'm deeply saddened by this. Park Yong Ha was one of my very favorite actors.
I was so looking forward to his new drama.

This sucks.

He was a lovely, sensitive actor! Depression is a terrible and deadly disease. We need to battle it the way we battle against cancer or heart disease! Though his death was termed a "suicide", PYH really succumbed to a disease. What a tragedy!

Oppa. Why did you do it? Oppa. Why? I don't even know you but the news of your death really break my heart. Oppa. Why?

OMG.. was so shocked with this news.. still can't believe it..why.?why?..
it's so sudden and came out of nowhere... just..shocking..
RIP..

@Ellie,

thank you so much. you said so many wise things, and I admire you for coming forth at a time like this. it is only through such honestly that things will get better. ::hugs::

I am so shocked :(

RIP, Park Yong-ha

I think the calling him selfish is only lack of understanding of just what depression is all about. Simply people suffering from depression are well, crazy not thinking correctly or whatever ..so you can not judge by 'normal standards', and we talking about chronic depression over a long period of time, not just the depression everyone gets from time to time. It is a mental illness and linked to something like insomnia makes it only more dangerous. I mean they do not use sleep deprecation as a torture for nothing.

I don't know what to say when I read news of PARK YONG HA's death. Its really make me feel very shocked cause' I'd heard about his upcoming project with YEH just last night. And today, he's gone forever. I'm really saluted him in his recent drama 'A Man Story'.R.I.P for PARK YONG HA. I'm really hope that no news of people in K.ent. committed suicide due to depression anymore. Hope that they can manage they feeling/distressed very well.

Park Yong Ha we will miss you..May you REST IN PEACE ;,(

Shocked because I was just reading an article about his future drama...RIP....

My deepest condolonces.. I wish that the issue of depression can be looked into more seriously by everyone and it should not be a social stigma.. if it's treated many lives would be saved..

I was not expecting this but I guess no one was! I can't even imagine what his family and friends must be going through!

My mom has severe depression right now.. it is a scary scary disease!

Oh my gosh, this is one of the most shocking news i've heard tonight...i'm getting goosebumps while reading this article JB....i'm in disbelief! I liked him in WS & others like Snowflakes. Let me share something here, when I was in Korea in April and was buying some souvenirs in Nan daemun, this nice store owner pulled out a huge photo of Park laminated as a bonus gift for me for buying souvenirs & it was a nice photo of him! I cannot believe this ..... why in the world at 32 wld he want to take his own life???? This again would be one of those unanswered questions of why some celebrities we came to know like Choi jin & her brother Choi ji young who passed away recently and a number of them who were in the same fate.
Not too long ago I was reading about him here being paired with Yoon eun and so happy to hear about it and now this?
May he rest in peace and my deepest sympathy to his family and friends. My prayers are with him & his family! He'll surely be missed!

Absolutely shocked to the core.
How much he must have suffered without anyone knowing...
RIP Park Yong-ha, you were gorgeous with a special charm and it is sad to have come to this. Condolences to his family and friends, + fans :(

OMG it's just shock me...park yong ha why?why?
i could not end up crying right now...hiks..hiks..

Depression is a profound condition that makes one feel so terrible in heart and soul that everyday is a struggle. Yet on the outside one still looks okay. Facing scary illness such as cancer and terminal illness of a loved one is like being burned with fire. I have faced all 3 and it is indescribably hellish. I had religion, family, to be there for me and it was still tremendously hard. I'm fine now. I don't know this actor but it's so sad that he took his life mainly because of the above factors. If anyone here face these problems, please keep trying because over time, there's great chance to feel okay again, even happy again. I've learned from it, one being more compassionate toward others who face such problems. Life is beautiful overall and worth the struggle.

OH NO! I can't believe this, too shocking. I adore him in On Air and Story of a Man and looking forward to all of his future project. My condolence to the family and RIP to PYH. I'm so sad to hear all the sad news concerning K-Celebrities, I hope there's help for all of them having depression.

@Ellie....thanks for sharing with us your own experience...it's sad and depression should really be addressed if Korea has not been giving this particular attention! I came to like/love i guess Korea the country & its people through watching Kdramas & went there recently and for some strange reason, I feel like it's my own country altho i'm not originally from there, i just came to be interested in everything about Korea through Kdramas! I'd say it's a very impressive country, people seems very disciplined, one of the cleanest places i've been to & I can go on & on.

Glad you're okay now as well with your sister!

My thoughts and prayers go with his family. I am in such a shock. I had to re-read the title of this blog post five times before it actually sank in.

This is really getting to the point where depression must be acknowledged and those who suffer from it counseled through it. I know we as readers of Dramabeans say it time and time again with each celebrity's passing but it just breaks my heart.

This is just... I couldn't believe it.... I was just so out of words... Park Yong-ha, was this the only way? I'm just so sad right now... I really respected him as an actor and loved in 'A Man's Story.' I will really miss him. Please rest in peace.

depression is a serious thing. i've been there, trust me. when you feel that there's nothing much to live for anymore and there's nothing else sweet in your life anymore, suicide will somehow cross your mind. The only thing stopping me from committing it is my faith/religion. Whatever happens in your life, just go back to your religion, and everything will be allright after that.

anyway, condolence to his family and friends. :(

GOD... this news. unbearably shocking the hell outta me!
How can this happened?
what's wrong with him?
it's such a big loss Korea, and I am reaaalllyyy saaad!!!
Cannot hold the tears coz I'm in love with this guy's act in ON AIR...
May he rest in peace
(T_T)
Goodbye Park Yong Ha, you surely will be missed.

I'm shell-shocked. I can't even think what Park Mama is going through right now. A dead son and a dying hubby.

I don't think I'll want to watch Love Song. It's such a painful reminder. So producers, GO figure!