Korean actor Kim Sung Min, whose career took off through the 2002 hit drama “Miss Mermaid,” was declared dead on June 26, two days after he fell into a coma following a suicide attempt. He was 43.
His liver, kidneys, corneas and intestines were harvested for donation as recommended by his family.
The actor was declared brain dead at 10:15 a.m. Sunday by doctors at St. Mary’s Hospital in Seoul where he was taken after police found him unconscious with a tie around his neck in a bathroom at his house at around 2 a.m. on June 24.
On Thursday night, his son called the police to report a quarrel between his parents. Police went to their home but the actor’s wife told them it was just a minor fight.
However, Kim’s wife decided to leave the home together with their son to spend the night at a relative’s house. Ten minutes later, she called the police and asked them to check on the actor who she believed would harm himself.
Kim started with a theater group in 1995 and began acting on TV in 1998. But it was “Miss Mermaid” who brought him stardom.
The series was aired in the Philippines as “Irene” in 2004.
His other drama credits included “Women Next Door,” “Lotus Flower Fairy,” “Family’s Honor,” “Can We Get Married” and “The Three Musketeers,” which aired in 2014.
In 2011, the actor was convicted of methamphetamine possesion, which he smuggled to Korea from Cebu between 2008 and 2010.
He was sentenced to four years in prison but he appealed his case and got two and half years in suspended sentence for four years. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 900,000 won (P36,000), 120 hours of community service and to enroll in substance abuse education for 40 hours. (JONATHAN M. HICAP)
