K-pop influencer Mina Chan dies at 26 after alarming TikTok Live

Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of suicide.

Japanese K-pop influencer Mina Chan, known for her content about boy group ENHYPEN, has died at 26 following a TikTok livestream that prompted viewers to contact emergency services.

According to The Korea Herald, South Korean authorities received a report early Wednesday, Aug. 5, concerning a Japanese woman in her 20s who was in distress on TikTok Live. Police later found her dead at an apartment in Seoul's Yongsan district, and her younger sister confirmed her death through an Instagram story, per Daily Mail.

Chan, who garnered around 80,000 followers on TikTok, was known within the ENHYPEN fan community and frequently posted content about the group. 

Her death came after she faced criticism from some members of the ENHYPEN fandom following an incident at one of the group's US events, where Chan attempted to give flowers to ENHYPEN member Ni-ki through another member, Sunoo. The interaction was subsequently discussed among fans online, with some accusing her of crossing boundaries or seeking the members' attention.

The controversy escalated after Ni-ki spoke about fans seeking personal attention from the group during a livestream. However, neither Ni-ki nor ENHYPEN's agency has publicly confirmed that his remarks were about her, and the connection remains unverified.

“Everywhere we go, there are a few people who really want us to notice them,” he said on the livestream.

Chan later apologized in an X post for the incident. Reports said she continued to receive criticism and harassment online in the days that followed.

“I feel like my actions ended up taking advantage of Sunoo’s kindness,” she wrote. “I’m truly sorry. I feel so apologetic toward Sunoo and all the Sunoo fans.”

“By attending ENHYPEN’s fansigns multiple times, I had deluded myself into thinking I was closer to the members than I actually was,” she added.

Seoul's Yongsan Police Station is investigating the circumstances surrounding Chan's death. While reports have described her death as an apparent suicide, authorities have not established that it was the online harassment or the recent controversy that caused it.

If you or anyone you know is considering self-harm or suicide, you may call the National Mental Health Crisis hotline at 1553 (Luzon-wide, landline toll-free), 0966-351-4518 or 0917-899-USAP (8727) for Globe/TM users, or 0908-639-2672 for Smart users.