Korean actor Park Yong-ha was cremated Friday. His ashes were scattered
in Bundang Memorial Park, in Gyeonggi Province.
Park’s coffin was taken from Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, where his funeral was held earlier Friday. When Park’s coffin appeared, more than 200 fans, including Japanese, expressed deep grief, some crying Park’s name out.
Actor So Ji-sub led the procession, holding Park’s funeral portrait. Bereaved family members and celebrity friends followed the actor, with many shedding tears.
The coffin was carried by actor Park Kwang-hyun and singers Kim Won-jun and Park Hyo-shin, who were close to the late Park. SS501 member Kim Hyung-jun and actresses Park Si-yeon, Kim Hyun-ju and Kim Gyu-ri followed behind.
Park’s parents did not attend the funeral. News reports said this was because they were still too much in shock after his sudden death.
Park, 33, killed himself Wednesday after caring for his ill father, police said. His death is the latest in a recent string of high-profile suicides in Korea.
Although it took less than 5 minutes for the coffin to leave the hospital, Park’s fans seemed to find it hard to tear themselves away, and stayed weeping.
After leaving Seoul’s St. Mary Hospital, the body was cremated in Seongnam.
By Christy Jin
Intern reporter
(Yonhap Photos)
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Is Kim So-young a younger Ko So-young?
Kim So-young became the first woman represented by JYP Entertainment, a music entertainment agency, to debut as an actress.
Kim made her debut in KBS 2’s “Even a Mother Is Pretty” as a teenage runaway.
JYP Entertainment reportedly made strenuous efforts to get Kim to pursue her career in acting since she is not only tall with pretty face, but because the agency believes she also has huge acting potential.
When her photos for Elle Girl magazine were released, they surprised many netizens because of the similarity in appearance between her and top actress Ko So-young.
The management agency said the photo shoot aimed to present a stylish and fit image. Kim appeared in the shoot in a variety of clothes, ranging from a vintage flower-patterned dress to simply mix-and-matched print t-shirts, it added.
By Christy Jin
Intern reporter
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Actress Min Young-won, 26, is becoming a popular search keyword online after news reports that she was proposed to by an Arab prince.
The reports quoted an unnamed official in the entertainment industry as saying Tuesday that the man was a crown prince of Dubai.
They said the prince has often flown to Korea by private jet to meet her. The reports added that he fell in love with her beauty and the personality.
But Min’s PI Entertainment agency denied the reports, saying the two are just friends.
Min acted in “Boys over Flowers” and “Shining Inheritance” and is currently acting in a drama “Happiness in the Wind.”
By Jung Joo-bin
Intern reporter