Pianist Lim Dong-hyuk Attempts Extreme Measures After Posting Suspected Suicide Note; Police Intervene

World-renowned pianist Lim Dong-hyuk caused alarm after posting a message on his social media account, suspected to be a suicide note, leading to police intervention.

On the morning of the 16th, Lim Dong-hyuk shared a lengthy handwritten letter on his social account. In the letter, he confessed to suffering from severe depression throughout his career as a performer. He stated, "Since 2015, I have taken antidepressants daily without fail. While antidepressants themselves are not bad drugs and can be taken lifelong, they have continuously caused me physical illness due to a chronic condition."

He continued, "Ultimately, music was my everything. I have documents I wrote on my computer but did not make public. They are about my ex-wife and a person named 'B.' Once I am gone, they will likely be released separately," hinting at an extreme decision.

Previously, Lim Dong-hyuk was accused in 2022 of sending obscene photos and messages to his wife during divorce proceedings. While the police forwarded the case to the prosecution for violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. (Obscene Media Use), the prosecution determined that 'sexual intent' was not recognized and cleared him. However, his ex-wife, identified as 'A,' caused a stir by releasing screenshots of obscene messages along with photos suggesting infidelity and prostitution on an online community. Subsequently, Lim Dong-hyuk was indicted for prostitution and received a 1 million KRW fine in the first trial held this September.

In response, Lim Dong-hyuk claimed in his handwritten letter, "My ex-wife 'A' slandered me by claiming I sent 'obscene messages' during our divorce proceedings. However, I did not send obscene messages, nor were we in divorce proceedings. 'A' has a hobby of collecting adult toys. On September 15, 2019, she invited Korean famous artists into a group chat and defamed me, so I politely sent her belongings separately." He added, "She threatened me, saying she would make me face a 'false #MeToo' accusation."

He also alleged he was assaulted by 'A,' stating, "I am only listing things for which I have recordings and evidence. Everything will be revealed after my death." He further expressed his frustration, "I remained silent because my agency told me to."

Regarding the prostitution fine, he admitted, "I was wrong." However, he expressed betrayal, saying, "A person named 'B' entered my phone, stole voice recording files, and even registered her face on my iPhone without my knowledge, then used the stolen files to accuse me."

He continued, "Regardless, I have had the experience of engaging in prostitution, and I was wrong. My mind and body can no longer endure, so I decided to accept the first trial ruling. As I said before, regardless of the legal aspects, I had the experience, and God knows that, so I considered it as punishment for that."

He named the person 'B' and claimed, "She was pure evil and a sociopath. She used my pain and distress over my ex-wife to threaten me, control me, and abuse me."

Although there was no precise explanation of who 'B' is, given Lim Dong-hyuk's lawsuit against a former lover in October 2023 for extortion and threats, it is presumed 'B' refers to this former lover.

Lim Dong-hyuk lamented, "Because of her ('B'), I now take 25 pills a day, including various psychotropic medications. My mind and body are shattered, and I am so lonely and isolated. While I was certainly not an angel, this world has been too harsh for me to live in."

He pleaded, "Ultimately, it is all my fault and my mistakes. But please believe me. Although I may be crude, my music is not."

Along with this, Lim Dong-hyuk attached materials supporting his claim that he did not send obscene photos to 'A,' stating, "I will be gone now, but I think it will be okay to speak after I'm gone, so I am entrusting this letter to a friend."

Following this post, which seemed to suggest an extreme decision, police were dispatched. According to a Yonhap News report on the same day, Seocho-gu police were dispatched to a location in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, around 8:30 AM after receiving a report expressing concern for Lim Dong-hyuk's well-being. Lim Dong-hyuk is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital and is reportedly not in life-threatening condition.

Meanwhile, Lim Dong-hyuk is a globally recognized pianist who has received significant attention for winning the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Chopin Competition, and Tchaikovsky Competition, among others, often referred to as the 'Big Three' piano competitions.

Netizens expressed concern and offered words of support, with comments like "My heart aches for him," "I hope he overcomes this difficult time," and "I hope the truth comes out."