South Korean singer Wheesung was found dead on Monday at his home in Seoul. He was 43 years old.
The singer was found in a state of cardiac arrest, the authorities said, adding that a “important time” had passed before his body was discovered.
They noted that there was no signs of unfair game on the scene.
Wheesung, whose real name is Choi Whee-Sung, made his debut in 2002 and quickly made a name for his moving voice. It was massively popular in the 2000s and was recognized for popularizing R&B in South Korea.
Over the years, Wheesung has established itself as a mentor and a vocal coach of K-Pop stars, even by writing songs for some of them. He has collaborated with many artists and has also played in K-POP concerts around the world, including in Hollywood.
He had to organize a concert with the ballad singer KCM this weekend in the city of Daegu.
His R&B ballads were complimentary of veteran Korean singers like Shin Seung-Hun and SEO Tae-Ji.
But Wheesung was not foreign to controversy either.
In 2021, he received a two -year suspended sentence for abusing propofol, a powerful anesthesia which also caused the death of Michael Jackson.
In the days of March and April 2020, Wheesung was found unconscious twice, as well as syringes and bottles containing and omidate, a drug inducing sleep similar to propofol.
The other artists shared tributes to Wheesung after the news of his death broke out.
“Wheesung, let’s sing and make music freely in this place. I will not forget your pure and clear heart,” wrote singer Yoon Min-soo in an article on social networks accompanied by a video of him and Wheesung by making a duo.
“Let us take over one day and sing together,” wrote Yoon.
Verbal rapper Jint Shared published a black square on Instagram, accompanied by legend: “Every moment we shared was an honor, and I am grateful. You worked so hard, rest in peace, Wheesung.”
