Park Seo-jin Opens Up About Attempted Suicide Due to Bullying and Negative Comments

On December 7, KBS2's 'Salim Namja-deul 2' featured a heartfelt segment where trot singer Park Seo-jin revealed the reasons behind his previous suicide attempt. The episode showcased Park's family attending group therapy due to his father's struggles with depression.

During the show, Park's father expressed his deep concern for his son, stating that negative comments online kept him awake at night. He recounted a distressing moment when Park had to be taken to the emergency room, recalling, "He collapsed when we stood him up, and he couldn't even control his bodily functions."

Park Seo-jin shared his own struggles, saying, "I was overall just having a hard time. Things weren't going well in Incheon, so I returned to Samcheok and started playing the janggu at the market. I faced a lot of criticism, with people saying I shouldn't tarnish the dignity of a singer. I also received harsh words from seniors in the industry, and fans threatened to leave, which I couldn't bear."

He expressed feelings of pressure, saying, "There was a burden to succeed quickly after my brothers passed away. I didn't want to add to my family's worries. I felt like I had no one to talk to about my struggles," as he fought back tears.

Previously, Park had disclosed that a senior in the industry had verbally abused him, telling him, "If you’re ugly, poor, and can’t sing, you shouldn’t be a singer."

His shocking revelations have stirred concern among his fanbase once again. Recently, Park has faced a series of challenges, including a mental health diagnosis that led to his military exemption due to family issues from 2018. He was accused of misleading the public by stating he aimed to create a hit song before enlisting, despite his mental health struggles.

Park admitted he was afraid that revealing his mental health condition would hinder his career. Additionally, he faced controversy when a former advertiser accused him of demanding unreasonable conditions during a promotional event, claiming he pressured them for a fan signing event and misrepresented sales figures.

However, Park's team strongly denied these allegations, presenting evidence that the advertiser had initially planned the event and that Park's team had legitimate concerns about the situation. Despite clearing his name from these accusations, it is undeniable that Park Seo-jin's image has taken a significant hit. As he continues to receive psychiatric treatment and shares his past struggles, public sympathy for him is beginning to resurface.