K-pop influencer Mina Chan, 26, died by apparent suicide during a TikTok livestream on August 5, according to the Korea Herald. Police responded to her residence after receiving a report from an acquaintance and found her deceased around 5:33 a.m.

Mina Chan, who had over 80,000 followers on TikTok, was a prominent fan of the K-pop group ENHYPEN. The incident occurred while she was livestreaming from her home, and social media users reportedly alerted authorities to assist her during the broadcast.

Her younger sister confirmed Chan's death the following day via an Instagram Story, stating, "My beloved older sister, who was always kind and warm to everyone she met, has passed away. I kindly ask that you keep my sister in your thoughts and prayers."

The circumstances surrounding Chan's death followed intense criticism from some K-pop fans. This backlash stemmed from an interaction during an ENHYPEN concert in the U.S. the previous month. Chan had attempted to have a band member, Sunoo, pass flowers to fellow member Ni-ki, who, like Chan, is Japanese. Some fans accused Chan of overstepping boundaries.

On July 31, Chan issued an apology on X, formerly Twitter, for the incident. "I feel like my actions ended up taking advantage of Sunoo’s kindness. I’m truly sorry. I feel so apologetic toward Sunoo and all the Sunoo fans," she wrote. She added, "By attending ENHYPEN’s fansigns multiple times, I had deluded myself into thinking I was closer to the members than I actually was."

Chan also expressed regret for her behavior at the concert, stating, "I deeply regret the rude behavior I exhibited in America. I ruined the atmosphere of the venue by prioritizing my own desire to meet Ni-ki over the precious time Ni-ki, who loves America so much, deserved. I’m truly sorry."

Despite her apology, Chan continued to receive hateful messages. Following her death, some social media users posted messages of condolence on her recent Instagram posts. One comment read, "The amount of hate, harassment and blame-shifting in this fandom is genuinely disgusting. We lost a sweet, beautiful and kind girl with a big heart."

If you or someone you know is affected by issues related to suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255), and the Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting 741741.