Remembering Park Bo-ram on the First Anniversary of Her Passing

As the first anniversary of singer Park Bo-ram's passing approaches, a wave of mourning continues to envelop her fans and the music community. Park tragically passed away on April 11, 2024, at the young age of 30.

She was found collapsed in a bathroom at a friend's house in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, after spending time drinking with two female friends. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she was pronounced dead at 11:15 PM the same day.

In the wake of her death, authorities sought to determine the exact cause and, with the consent of her family, requested an autopsy from the National Forensic Service. The final autopsy report, released 43 days later, indicated that Park had been suffering from health issues related to liver disease and fatty liver, and while acute alcohol poisoning was noted, no other potential causes of death were identified.

At the time of her passing, it was reported that Park had shared a bottle of soju with her friends. Concerned when she did not return from the bathroom, one of her friends discovered her and called for help. There were no signs of foul play or indications of suicide at the scene.

The news of Park Bo-ram's death was particularly heartbreaking as it came just before the 10th anniversary of her debut. In the chaotic aftermath, false rumors circulated online, prompting singer Kim Geu-rim, who was close to Park and gained fame from Mnet's Superstar K2, to express her outrage on social media. She criticized YouTubers who spread sensationalized fake news, stating, "How can we take action against those who exploit people for profit? It’s infuriating to see such lies, including claims that I am under police investigation. Enough is enough. They will face consequences."

Park Bo-ram first gained recognition through the Mnet audition program Superstar K2 in 2010. She officially debuted in 2014 with her hit single '예뻐졌다' (I Got Pretty) and was also beloved for her contribution to the OST of the popular tvN drama '응답하라 1988' (Reply 1988) with the song '혜화동' (Hyehwa-dong). Last year marked her 10th anniversary in the industry, and she had recently released a duet titled '좋겠다' (I Wish) with singer Huh Gak in February, while preparing for a comeback with a new album, making her untimely passing even more tragic.