30 Years Since The Passing of DEUX's Kim Sung-jae: The Unresolved Mystery Lingers

It has been 30 years since Kim Sung-jae, the late member of the hip-hop duo DEUX, left this world.

Kim Sung-jae was found deceased in a hotel room in Hongjeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on November 20, 1995. He was only 24 years old.

His sudden death, just one day after performing his comeback stage for the solo album title track 'Malhajamyeon' (If I Were To Say) after DEUX disbanded, sent shockwaves through the public.

At the time, police initially suspected suicide. However, the autopsy revealed 28 needle marks on the right arm of the right-handed Kim Sung-jae, and the animal anesthetic Zoletil was detected in his blood and urine.

The medical examiner noted, 'Given the multiple injection marks in a difficult-to-reach position for a right-handed person and the unusual drug used, the possibility of homicide cannot be ruled out.'

As suspicions of foul play arose, his girlfriend, identified as Ms. A, became the prime suspect. Ms. A had purchased Zoletil and syringes, reportedly for the euthanasia of her pet dog, and was known to have stayed at the hotel with Kim Sung-jae until the early morning hours of his death.

During questioning, Ms. A admitted to being alone with Kim Sung-jae in the hotel room but vehemently denied the charges, stating, 'We had a smooth relationship, so there was no reason for me to kill him.'

She was initially sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial. However, after appeals, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling due to insufficient evidence, acquitting her.

Subsequent attempts by programs like SBS's 'Unanswered Questions' to investigate Kim Sung-jae's death were blocked by Ms. A's legal team through injunctions, leaving the cause of his death shrouded in mystery to this day.

Kim Sung-jae debuted with DEUX in 1993 alongside his high school friend Lee Hyun-do, and they achieved immense popularity with numerous hit songs such as 'Nareul Dorabwa' (Look At Me), 'Uri-neun' (We Are), and 'Yeoreum Aneseo' (In Summer).

Netizens expressed disbelief at the passage of 30 years, lamenting that the truth remains unknown and offering condolences. Comments like 'It's hard to believe it's been 30 years,' and 'It's so frustrating that the truth is still not out' were common.