Known as a “national actress” of South Korea, Choi Jin-Sil was once greeted as a symbol of beauty and talent. But behind the dazzling spotlight there was a life marked by suffering: a violent marriage, an interrupted career and in the end his tragic death. Its history remains one of the deepest scars in the Korean entertainment sector.
The glory of the actress of the nation “
Born in 1968 in Seoul, Choi Jin-Sil came from a modest family. Nobody could have imagined that this thin girl with a radiant smile would dominate the Korean screens in the 90s.
Starting with an 1988 Washing Machine commercial, it became almost during the night, becoming the “golden face” of the best brands such as Samsung, LG and AmorePacific. His actor career has exploded with iconic dramas like Jealousy (1992), Stars in my heart (1997) e My rosy life (2005).
Her authentic emotional performances gained the title of “National Treasure Actress” and “National Actress”. He also reigned as the Top Cf star (Commercial Film), appearing in over 100 advertising campaigns, earning tens of billions of wins every year, a stunning figure at that moment.
A fairytale wedding became nightmare
In 2000, Choi Jin-Sil married the baseball star Cho Sung-Min in what the media called “The marriage of the century. “The sumptuous ceremony hosted over 1,500 guests and was broadcast nationally.
But in a few months, the fairy tale crumbles. Choi has undergone both physical and emotional abuses, even during pregnancy. Once, she was so seriously beaten that she had to be hospitalized. Instead of protection, her husband trampled her on the media, exposing private issues and leaving her family burdened by her debts.
In 2004, Choi asked for the divorce and won the custody of his sons-Hwan-Hee and Joon-Hee-piercing his husband’s debts. However, post-Divorce life was far from peaceful, since tabloids continued to leverage his failed marriage.
Depression and an infinite cycle of tragedy
The pain of his marriage was soon followed by harmful voices. She was accused of guiding a celebrity partner to commit suicide for unpaid loans. In combination with the loss of approval agreements for having publicly talked about abuse, Choi turned into depression.
On October 2, 2008, Choi Jin-Sil got home. His final messages to a dear friend reads: “Please take care of children” AND “I am sorry.”
His death shocked the nation. Within 24 hours, two obsessed fans also concluded their lives. The disappearance of Choi has turned on the national debates on domestic violence, mental health and the role of the media in destroying the privacy of celebrities.
The tragedy continued to persecute his family:
- In 2010, his brother Choi Jin-Yung also died of suicide.
- In 2013, her ex-husband Cho Sung-min took her life.
All three died at the age of 39, transforming that number into a chilling curse associated with the family.
Orphaned children and their struggles
When Choi died, Hwan-Hee was only 7 years old and Joon-Hee only 5. They were raised by the grandmother, but life was not easy.
In 2017, Joon-Hee shocked the public accusing his grandmother of verbal and emotional abuses, saying that he felt oppressed and even suicidal. The case triggered a heated debate: while some sympathized with Joon-Hee, others claimed that he was too young to understand his grandmother’s weight.
The investigations did not find evident evidence of physical abuse, concluding most of the conflict came from generational and psychological pressures.
But in 2023, the conflict filled when Joon-Hee accused his grandmother of mistressing 300 million (about $ 230,000 USD) from the property of his deceased mother. He also called his grandmother’s police for alleged transgression, which intensified in a scandal. Later, Joon-Hee apologized for acting immaturely, but their relationship was fractured.
Despite past turbulence, Joon-Hee has become a young woman who pursues a modeling career, even winning a birth prize in 2024. However, in particular she did not mention her grandmother in her acceptance speech.
Meanwhile, his brother Hwan-Hee, with the name of art Z.Flat, made his debut as a solo singer in 2020. Although not yet very popular, he continues to work constantly in music and maintains a support relationship with his sister.
Choi Jin-Sil’s legacy
Two decades after his disappearance, Choi Jin-Sil’s children are slowly sculpt their lives, through difficulties, reconciliations and personal growth. Their resilience continues to inspire compassion and reflection in South Korea, reminding the public the devastating costs of domestic abuse, social pressure and media control without control.
If it were alive today, many believe that Choi Jin-Sil would be proud of the strength that his children have shown to carry on his inheritance.
Sources: K14
