Controversy Erupts Following Death of Fitness Influencer Kim Woong-seo

The death of fitness YouTuber Kim Woong-seo has sparked significant controversy following the release of recorded conversations involving his common-law partner. On April 5, SBS's investigative program '그것이 알고 싶다' (I Want to Know That) delved into the shocking secrets surrounding Kim's untimely passing.

Kim, who boasted 120,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and was the head of a franchise with numerous locations, was reported dead on March 3. An individual identified as A, claiming to be a family member, stated through Kim's social media that he had died from an 'accident.' However, Kim's company later issued a statement attributing his death to a 'heart attack,' leading to various speculations about the cause.

Adding to the intrigue, a lengthy post believed to have been scheduled by Kim before his death was published at midnight on the day of his funeral but was deleted just four minutes later. In this post, Kim expressed a heavy heart, stating, "At the time this post is made public, I may no longer be in this world. I apologize for showing a bad side at the end of my life." He also mentioned a person named Kim OO, whom he accused of being a fraudster and a criminal, indicating that he would continue to resent and curse this individual even after death.

The deleted message was reportedly removed by A, who was seen at the funeral home dressed in mourning attire, receiving guests alongside the individual mentioned in Kim's post. Following complaints from Kim's family, both A and the other individual left the funeral home.

Subsequently, Kim's father conducted a forensic examination of his son's phone, recovering 1,700 recorded calls, 430 of which were with A. Some of these recordings suggested that A may have been involved in planning Kim's death, raising further alarm.

A and Kim had been in a relationship while Kim was still in the process of divorcing his wife. They lived together and welcomed a child the following year, but their common-law relationship had ended a year before Kim's death.

The released recordings included A making ominous remarks to Kim, such as, "You’re really planning to die, right?" and "If you die today, I’ll be grateful for what you’ve done for me." A also asked if Kim had saved the contacts in his phone separately and made comments about his will.

In response to the allegations, A admitted to having some involvement in the planning of Kim's death but claimed, "I tried to stop him. I wanted him to live. Every time I tried to dissuade him, he reacted more impulsively, and I felt helpless. I was struggling too."

A further stated that Kim was under immense pressure regarding his reputation and finances, alleging that he despised his family and had instructed that they be removed from his funeral if he died. This was purportedly the reason he did not share his phone with them.

Regarding the deletion of the will, A explained, "It was an emotional decision. I deleted it to prevent further scandalous rumors from spreading."