It has been 10 years since actor Pan Young-jin, who took on the lead role in an independent film after 28 years since debut, ended his life due to depression and financial difficulties.
June 22, 2025, marks the 10th anniversary of the late Pan Young-jin's passing.
He was found dead in a vehicle parked in the front yard of his home in Gojan-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang City, at 11:45 p.m. on June 22, 2015. He was 58 years old.
A resident discovered him and reported it to the 119 rescue service, while Pan Young-jin was found sitting in the driver's seat with remnants of a charcoal briquette in the passenger seat. No suicide note was discovered, but a message he sent to a friend contained details about ending his life.
It has been reported that the messages left by Pan Young-jin included sentiments such as "Life is impermanent; even living brings no hope; I am trying to die, but I cannot die." Notably, three days before his death, Pan Young-jin left a post on social media stating, "I am a weed, and that pine tree is a pine tree; how could a weed become a pine tree?" A month before his death, he wrote, "After enduring for 20 years in this house in Ilsan, where should I go now?"
The police are investigating the circumstances of the incident based on statements from the family, which indicated that Pan Young-jin had been struggling with financial difficulties and suffering from depression. It added to the sadness as it was revealed that Pan Young-jin had previously attempted to take his own life by taking a large amount of sleeping pills five months prior to his death.
Pan Young-jin debuted in 1978 and took on the role of a subway train operator in the independent film "Butterfly Mole" directed by Seo Myung-soo in 2006. At that time, he was known as an actor who was "a leading role after 28 years since debut," but his tragic end due to financial difficulties and depression evoked a sense of shock.
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