Kim Sung-jae


Kim Sung-jae was a South Korean singer, rapper, dancer, and model, best known as a member of Deux, an influential early K-pop and Korean hip hop group that rose to fame in the early 1990s. Sungjae died of an apparent murder in 1995 at the age of 23, although to some the exact circumstances surrounding his death are considered an unsolved mystery.

Death

Several months after Deux broke up, SungJae released his debut solo album, As I Told You, on November 19, 1995. He performed the album's title track the same day on an SBS music program and then returned to his hotel room with his girlfriend and members of his entourage. He was found dead in his hotel room the next day, and police ruled the cause of death a heart attack caused by karōshi, or overworking. However, 28 needle marks were later discovered on his right arm, and an autopsy found traces of an animal anaesthetic, or animal stimulant in his body. His girlfriend was arrested for the alleged murder of Sungjae and was sentenced to life in prison, but was later acquitted due to the "lack of evidence". The case still has been considered an unsolved mystery.

Discography

With Deux

Solo album