Singer Wheesung, known for captivating Korea with his ballads, died at 43.

Wheesung, a South Korean singer, was found dead on Monday at his home in Seoul.  He was 43.

 

The musician was found in cardiac arrest, according to investigators, and his body was discovered after a "significant amount of time" had passed.

 

They reported that there was no evidence of foul play at the scene.

 

Wheesung, real name Choi Whee-sung, debuted in 2002 and became well-known for his soulful voice.  He was highly successful in the 2000s and popularised R&B in South Korea.

Over time, Wheesung established himself as a mentor and vocal coach to K-pop artists, even penning songs for some of them.  He cooperated with numerous singers and performed in K-pop events worldwide, including Hollywood.

 

He was set to perform a concert with ballad singer KCM in Daegu this weekend.

 

His R&B songs received appreciation from veteran Korean vocalists such as Shin Seung-hun and Seo Tae-ji.

 

But Wheesung was no stranger to controversies.

 

In 2021, he received a two-year suspended sentence for misusing propofol, a strong anesthetic that also caused Michael Jackson's death.

In March and April 2020, Wheesung was discovered unconscious twice, along with syringes and vials of etomidate, a sleep-inducing medicine comparable to propofol.

 

Following Wheesung's death, fellow artists paid respect.

 

"Wheesung, let us sing and play music freely in that place.  "I won't forget your pure and clear heart," singer Yoon Min-soo wrote in a social media post that included a video of him and Wheesung performing a duet.

 

"Let's meet again someday and sing together," Yoon wrote.

 

Rapper Verbal Jint posted a black square on Instagram with the caption: 

"Every moment we shared was an honor, and I'm grateful."  You've worked so hard; rest in peace, Wheesung."