South Korean police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the Japanese influencer known on social media as “Mina-chan,” 26, after she was found dead at her home in Seoul’s Yongsan District following her suicide during a livestream on TikTok, according to South Korean media reports. Police have not announced any direct link between her death and cyberbullying.
Reports said police found Mina on August 5 after receiving a report from an acquaintance, while the case drew widespread attention after users attempted to alert authorities during the livestream.
Criticism preceded her death
Mina had more than 80,000 followers on TikTok and was particularly active within the fan community of the South Korean K-pop group ENHYPEN. Before her death, she faced online criticism over an incident at one of the group’s concerts in the United States.
According to reports on the case, Mina attempted to deliver flowers to the group’s Japanese member Ni-ki through his bandmate Sunoo. Some fans viewed her action as crossing a boundary, while others considered it merely a misunderstanding.
On July 31, Mina posted an apology on X, saying she regretted her conduct at the concert and acknowledging that she had overestimated how close she was to the group’s members because she had attended their events several times.
No confirmed link to cyberbullying
Reports that emerged after Mina’s death said she had continued to face abusive comments and criticism from some internet users. However, police have not so far directly linked those attacks to her death, and the circumstances of the case remain under investigation.
Renewed debate over pressures on celebrities
The case has revived debate over the pressures faced by celebrities and influencers in East Asia. In South Korea, the deaths of singers Sulli and Goo Hara in 2019 drew widespread attention to cyberbullying and abusive comments targeting K-pop stars, after both had previously spoken about pressure and online criticism.
In February 2025, the death of actress Kim Sae-ron, aged 24, reignited debate over the pressures facing celebrities in South Korea, following years of criticism and intense media coverage after a 2022 drunk-driving incident.
In Japan, the 2020 death of wrestler and “Terrace House” star Hana Kimura prompted official moves to strengthen laws concerning online abuse and defamation.
