SEOUL, Oct 29 — A former contestant of Korean TV singing competitions “Superstar K” and “The Voice Korea” has been found dead.
Kim Hyun Ji’s death was ruled a suicide by the police, after burnt charcoal was found inside the car where she was discovered. She was 31.
Multiple entertainment sites reported yesterday that Kim’s body was found along with that of two male companions, only identified as Ko and Lee, inside a rented car on Tuesday morning at Bokshimsa Temple in North Jeolla province.
The police said the three died after inhaling carbon monoxide fumes from burning charcoal briquettes. A portable stove was also found in the car.
According to Korean media, the owner of the car rental company called the police after the rented car was not returned on time and he could not contact one of the men. The car was found by using GPS.
In a statement, director of “The Voice Korea” Oh Kwang Suk said, “Kim Hyun Ji was a participant with great ambitions regarding music. It was to the point that it was hard to showcase in the broadcast her passion and drive. It’s such a huge shame. I relay my condolences.”
Kim first caught the public’s attention in 2009 in the first season of Mnet’s “Superstar K”. The following year, she debuted with a mini-album “Everything”.
However, her career did not take off and in 2013, she joined the second season of “The Voice of Korea” to try her luck again.
The singer also reportedly suffered from depression.
