K-pop star Sulli found dead aged 25

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Police told the BBC the singer’s manager found her dead at her home near Seoul, South Korea.

They say they are investigating the cause of her death and are working on the ‎assumption that she may have taken her own life.‎

The star, who had more than five million followers on Instagram, was a former member of the band f(x) until she left in 2015 to focus on her acting career.

Some believe the artist, whose real name is Choi Jin-ri, suspended her K-pop work after struggling with the abuse she got online.

She was a “free spirit” according to music journalist Taylor Glasby.

“She was one of the idols who decided to live her life in the way she wanted to and that didn’t always sit well with the general public,” she tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

In South Korea, pop stars are called idols.

“For idols, everything is about appearance, everything is quite monitored and she just didn’t [monitor her content]. She was herself”.

“She clapped back and she wouldn’t take people’s narrow-mindedness”.

Taylor says Sulli’s former band f(x) changed K-pop.

“They were one of the girl groups that didn’t fit in, they did their own thing. Their music was more hard-hitting. It was innovative and complex, and it helped cement an entire sub-genre within K-pop – girl crush.

“When she left, her legacy became being outspoken. It became taking control of her own image. I admired her spirit to do so despite the constant negativity that was directed at her by some less open minded citizens.”‎

Sulli’s former f(x) bandmate, Amber Liu, has posted her shock at what’s happened. (BBC)