South Korean actor Song Jae Rim dies at 39

By Thien Lam November 12, 2024 | 07:28 pm PT

Actor Song Jae Rim, famous for his roles in the TV drama series “The Moon Embracing the Sun,” has died at the age of 39, with the cause of his death not having been disclosed.

South Korean actor Song Jae Rim. Photo from Song's Instagram

According to MBC, the actor was found deceased at his home in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday. A friend who had arranged to meet him for lunch discovered his body and promptly notified the police.

Officials from the local police stated to Yonhap News that there were no signs of external factors contributing to the actor’s death. His body has since been moved to the funeral home of Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital in Seoul, where his funeral will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday. He will be subsequently interred at Seoul Seunghwawon Cemetery.

The news of Song’s death has shocked the South Korean media, especially as he had been actively involved in projects from July to October. Notably, he had been absent from social media, failing to post any updates or images since January.

Song initiated his career as a model before making a transition to acting in 2009. Over the years, he featured in various films and television series, including "Two Weeks," "Goodbye Mr. Black," "Our Gab Soon," and "I Wanna Hear Your Song."

In 2014, Song gained significant popularity alongside actress Kim So Eun on the fourth season of MBC’s hit dating show "We Got Married," earning the Male Rookie Entertainment Award and the Best Couple Award with Kim.

Colleagues have remembered him as a straightforward, kind-hearted individual who was committed to charity, often making contributions anonymously.