30 Years On, the Mystery Surrounding the Death of DEUX's Kim Sung-jae Remains Unsolved, Even Blocked from 'Unanswered Questions'

It has been 30 years since Kim Sung-jae, a member of the iconic 90s group DEUX, tragically passed away.

However, the questions and controversies surrounding his sudden death continue to this day. Dozens of needle marks, the presence of animal anesthetic components, conflicting court rulings, and even a broadcast ban – while the legal case may be closed, his death remains an unresolved mystery in the public's memory.

Kim Sung-jae was found dead in a hotel in Hongjeon-dong, Seoul, on November 20, 1995, shortly after making a comeback with his solo song 'Malhajamyeon' (If You Ask Me). The day before his death, he spoke excitedly to his mother on the phone, saying, 'Mom, I did well. I'll be there early tomorrow. I can finally eat your kimchi and rice tomorrow. I can't wait!' This call, however, turned out to be his last.

Initial police investigations pointed to a drug overdose. The police stated, 'We found 28 needle marks on Kim's right arm,' a detail that was difficult to accept given he was right-handed and the marks were on his dominant arm. An autopsy revealed the presence of animal anesthetics such as zoletil and tiletamine, leading the coroner to state, 'We cannot rule out foul play.' The initial conclusion of a drug overdose was quickly met with strong suspicion.

His then-girlfriend, identified as Ms. A, was named the prime suspect. On the day of the incident, the hotel suite was occupied by Ms. A, two American dancers, four Korean dancers, and manager Mr. B. There were no signs of forced entry. Prosecutors determined that Ms. A had purchased animal anesthetics and syringes from a veterinary clinic shortly before the incident, concluding that she injected Kim Sung-jae with an animal sedative to put him to sleep before administering other drugs, leading to his death.

Ms. A denied the charges, claiming she purchased zolazepam to euthanize her pet dog and had discarded the syringes in the apartment's trash the next day. Nevertheless, the first trial court largely accepted the prosecution's charges and sentenced her to life imprisonment, making it seem as though the case was closed with a prime suspect apprehended and a severe sentence handed down.

However, the verdict was completely overturned in the second trial. The appellate court ruled that 'there is insufficient evidence to raise reasonable doubt.' They pointed to the lack of key physical evidence, such as the syringe identified as the murder weapon, and gaps in the investigation regarding the location, method, and timing of the alleged murder. The court declared Ms. A not guilty due to insufficient evidence, stating that 'the possibility of an accident or a third-party crime cannot be ruled out.' The Supreme Court upheld this decision, and Ms. A was acquitted.

In the eyes of the law, both the suspect and the crime disappeared. While the judicial process concluded, Kim Sung-jae's death remains an unsolved case 30 years later. The incident has been repeatedly brought back into the public spotlight over time. In 2019, the SBS program 'Unanswered Questions' attempted to air an episode titled 'The Mystery of Kim Sung-jae's Death,' but Ms. A filed an injunction to block the broadcast, citing defamation and infringement of personal rights. The episode was ultimately not aired. The production team's subsequent attempts to air a revised version were met with the same result. Repeated court orders to ban the broadcast have made this case almost a taboo, difficult to address even on mainstream investigative programs.

Meanwhile, time has passed. Kim Sung-jae's younger brother, Kim Sung-wook, debuted as a solo artist in 1997, carrying on his brother's musical legacy. More recently, DEUX released a new song titled 'Rise,' featuring Kim Sung-jae's voice restored through AI technology. DEUX's hit songs from 1993, such as 'Nareul Dorabwa' (Look at Me), 'Uri-neun' (We Are), and 'Yeoreum Aneseo' (In Summer), continue to be cherished as iconic songs of 90s music.

Korean netizens expressed frustration, commenting, 'It's so frustrating that the case remains unsolved even after 30 years,' and 'DEUX was my childhood, it's sad that the truth hasn't been revealed yet.' Many also offered condolences, saying, 'Rest in peace, Kim Sung-jae. I hope the truth will be revealed someday.'