Jeong Da-bin

Jeong Da-bin (March 4, 1980 – February 10, 2007) was a South Korean actress. Best known for the popular television series Cats on the Roof, she died through suicide in 2007 at the age of 26.

Not to be confused with Jung Da-bin (actress, born 2000).
In this Korean name, the family name is Jeong.
Jeong Da-bin
정다빈
Jeong Da-bin in 2006.
Born
Jeong Hye-sun

(1980-03-04)March 4, 1980
Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
DiedFebruary 10, 2007(2007-02-10) (aged 26)
Seoul, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Other namesJung Da-bin
OccupationActress, Dancer
Years active2000–2007
Notable work
Cats on the Roof
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeong Da-bin
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Tabin
Birth name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeong Hye-seon
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Hyesŏn

Career

Born Jeong Hye-seon in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, she studied Theater and Film at Dongguk University. Using the stage name Jeong Da-bin, she made her acting debut in 2000 in The Legend of Gingko. This was followed by minor and supporting roles in television dramas, and as part of the ensemble cast in the sitcom Nonstop.

In 2003, Jeong and her costar Kim Rae-won rose to fame with Cats on the Roof. Depicting a boy and a girl platonically living together then falling in love (with cohabitation at the time a taboo topic in the South Korean mainstream), the series was a smash hit, especially popular among teenagers and twentysomethings.[1][2][3]

Jeong became known for her cheerful and positive image, and in 2004 she headlined her first film, the romantic comedy He Was Cool opposite Song Seung-heon, based on the internet novel by Guiyeoni.[4] She then returned to television, starring with Yoon Kye-sang in My 19 Year Old Sister-in-Law. Her last project would be That Summer's Typhoon with Han Ye-seul, which didn't do well in the ratings in 2005.

Subsequent depression and death

On February 10, 2007, Jeong was found hanged with a bath towel in the bathroom of her boyfriend's house in Samseong-dong, Gangnam District, southern Seoul.[5][6] Her boyfriend, identified by his last name Lee, said he took Jeong back to his house because she got drunk while hanging out with friends at a nearby bar in Cheongdam-dong.[7] Lee, who discovered the body at 7:50 a.m. and called the police, said the actress had been recently depressed over her lack of work, the imprisonment of her previous manager, and malicious attacks on the Internet about her physical appearance.[8][9][10] Lee also said Jeong first tried to kill herself by cutting her wrist in September/October 2006, which her talent agency disputed, saying her wrist scar was from an accident when she was a freshman in high school.[11] Suspecting foul play, her family and agency requested an investigation, and the postmortem concluded that it was suicide.[12]

While no apparent suicide note was left behind, Jeong had posted her thoughts on her personal blog on Cyworld a day before she killed herself. Under the title "The End" (or "Finished"), she wrote:[11][13]

Everything is so complicated. I get angry for no reason and I feel like I'm going crazy. It hurts so much that I feel like I'm getting seasick. My head hurts so much that I start to tear. I was becoming a slave to my temper. I thought that I was losing myself, losing my identity. Then, as if lightning had struck, all became quiet. The Lord came to me with love. He made me realize my importance and gave me courage. I was about to collapse, and he lifted me up, saying it's going to be okay. YES, I WILL BE OKAY.

She was cremated, and her remains placed at Cheonga Park in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Jeong's death, which was shortly after singer U;Nee's suicide in January 2007, sent shock waves throughout Korea and sparked concern over copycat suicides.[14][15]

Filmography

Television drama

Film

Music video

Awards

See also

References
  1. Chun, Su-jin (1 July 2003). "Prince Charming moves in, brings laundry". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  2. Lim, Kit. "Attic Cat (2003, MBC miniseries)". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  3. Chung, Ah-young (14 March 2010). "Popular Drama Goes on Stage". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  4. Yang, Sung-jin (22 July 2004). "The Guy was Cool caters to teen love fantasies". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  5. Kim, Pil-gyu; Chun, Su-jin (12 February 2007). "Actress found hanged, apparently a suicide". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  6. "South Korean Actress Jeong Da-bin Commits Suicide". CRI English. 11 February 2007. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  7. "Actress Jeong Da-bin found dead in suspected suicide". The Hankyoreh. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  8. "Showbiz Suicides Alarm Management Agencies". The Chosun Ilbo. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  9. Lee, Hyun-taek; Park, Sun-young (3 October 2008). "Celebrities driven over the edge by online rumors". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  10. "Celebrity suicides shock the nation in 2008". The Korea Herald. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  11. "Insiders Suspect Foul Play in Actress Jeong Da-bin's Suicide". The Chosun Ilbo. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  12. Kim, Soe-jung (13 February 2007). "Autopsy confirms actress' suicide". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  13. Choe, Sang-hun (23 May 2007). "Tracking an Online Trend, and a Route to Suicide". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  14. Shin, Hae-in (13 February 2007). "Celebrity suicides spark copy-cat fears". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
  15. "Hundreds of Copycats Follow Celebrity Suicides". The Chosun Ilbo. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
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