K-pop Influencer Commits Suicide on Livestream After Harassment

Photo Credit: ENHYPEN MusicBank Fancam by mang2goon / CC by 3.0

A Japanese K-pop influencer died seemingly by suicide during a TikTok livestream in Seoul. Police received an emergency call after concerns about her safety arose during the broadcast.

A 26-year-old Japanese K-pop influencer living in South Korea has died, seemingly by suicide during a TikTok livestream after she suffered online harassment. Mina Chan ran a popular ENHYPEN fan account and had recently apologized for her behavior at a concert in the United States that sparked intense backlash from her fellow fans.

Mina Chan was a well-known figure in ENHYPEN’s global fandom, known as the ENGENE. She was particularly associated with content focused on Japanese member Ni-ki. Based in Seoul, she frequently attended fan events and concerts, with an online presence that attracted tens of thousands of followers.

During an ENHYPEN concert in the U.S. in late July, Chan threw a bouquet of sunflowers toward the stage, which was caught by member Sunoo, who then posed with the flowers. Multiple fan accounts say Chan then became visibly upset and repeatedly asked Sunoo to pass the bouquet to Ni-ki in a moment that was widely clipped and shared on social media.

During a Weverse livestream on July 30, Ni-ki addressed concert etiquette and spoke generally about attendees who seem more focused on the group noticing them than enjoying the show. While Chan was not mentioned by name and the bouquet was not discussed, many fans interpreted Ni-ki’s remarks as a reference to the incident.

Chan then issued a lengthy apology on Twitter, saying she felt she had “taken advantage of Sunoo’s kindness” and regretted her “rude behavior” in America. She said she had prepared sunflowers for Sunoo and roses for Ni-ki and had wanted to see the two holding the flowers together, which led to her acting in an “inappropriate” manner. By attending multiple events with the band, she said she had “deluded” herself into thinking she was “closer to the members” than she actually was.

But Chan reportedly continued to receive hostile messages, including comments related to self-harm. She temporarily closed her fan account on August 1, and she went live on TikTok in the early hours of August 5 from her apartment in Seoul. Concerns arose that she was attempting to self-harm, and an emergency report was made, which led to police being dispatched to the scene.

Chan was found unresponsive, and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Her younger sister posted an emotional statement on Instagram, asking that she be kept “in your thoughts and prayers.” Tributes have poured in from fans online, condemning online bullying within the broader K-pop fandom.

Reports have documented the online backlash that she experienced shortly before her death, but authorities have not yet publicly concluded that the harassment caused or directly contributed.