The South Korean music industry has been left devastated after the news of Choi Whee-sung’s untimely demise made the headlines. He reportedly left for his heavenly abode on March 10, leaving behind his family, fans and industry colleagues, acquaintances to grieve his passing. As per media reports, he passed away at the age of 43. The tragic news was confirmed by his agency Tajoy Entertainment.

Sad news from Seoul as singer Wheesung was found dead at his home in a state of cardiac arrest, as confirmed by his agency Tajoy Entertainment. The award-winning, R&B vocalist enjoyed a string of hit albums and songs in the ’00s and ’10s

He was 43. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/ilZ50J6KPl
— Jeff Benjamin (@Jeff__Benjamin) March 10, 2025

Having shaped the Korean R&B scene, Wheesung’s cause of death has not been determined. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Seoul police have stated that a “substantial amount of time” had passed before his body was found. They added that there were no signs of foul play at the scene. Issuing a statement about his death, on Monday night, Tajoy Entertainment said, “The artist Wheesung has left us. He was found in cardiac arrest at his residence and was later pronounced dead.” The added that its fellow artists and staff are in deep sorrow.

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Quoting a local newspaper, The Korea Times, the media publication reports that the renowned R&B singer was discovered unconscious in his apartment in Seoul’s northern Gwangjin-gu district at 6:29 pm. He was scheduled to meet his manager earlier that day, but didn’t show up and couldn’t be reached. His mother, who lived in the same apartment building, went to check up on him where she found him unresponsive. She immediately contacted the emergency responders.

Born on February 5, 1982, Choi Whee-sung was a celebrated musician known for his soulful voice and emotional ballads. He gained a massive following for being able to convey raw emotions through his music and emerged as one of the most-influential R&B artists in the South Korean music industry. For those who don’t know, despite having a successful career, he faced a lot of hardships in his personal life.

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While he officially made his debut in 2002, with his album Like A Movie, his second album It’s Real (2003) paved the way for his stardom. Over the years, he continued to dominate the charts with blockbuster hits like Insomnia, Can’t We, and Even Thought of Marriage. His ability of flawlessly blending R&B with pop and hip-hop made him a versatile artist. Having worked with many big names of the industry, he also shaped the careers of rising stars.

Singer Choi Whee-sung, known as Wheesung, found dead at 43 years old
byu/SnooperMike inkorea

Despite being talented and musically gifted, he also faced his fair share of controversies. In 2011, he was investigated for illegally using propofol, a powerful drug. While he was not charged back then, in 2020, he faced major scrutiny after being found unconscious multiple times after allegedly injecting a similar sedative, etomidate. Media reports suggested that he was struggling with dependency issues. He was using medication to cope with insomnia and severe depression. He apparently suffered from anxiety too. His battle with his deteriorating mental health must have reportedly played a role in him being dependent on medication.

However, he continued to be deeply passionate about music. He was determined to stay connected with his fans and continued to create soulful songs for them.