He struggled with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with symptoms worsening recently.
His family clarified the cause of death as an accident and requested to honor him through music and memories.
Singer Jindaynim (real name Kim Jeong-yeob) has unexpectedly passed away at the age of 29.
On January 3, his family reported, 'Our brother left this world on the evening of December 17, 2025, due to an accident.'
According to the family, Jindaynim's cause of death was a fall, linked to the struggle he experienced from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia since 2015. His sister shared, 'He was aware of his illness and tried to manage it through treatment and medication, but his condition significantly worsened recently. It became difficult to control him even with family support.' This indicates that his impulsive actions were a result of his symptoms.
She stressed, 'We want to clarify that his death was not a suicide but an accident resulting from his condition.' The family hopes that he will be remembered through the music he left and the warm memories, rather than just as a figure of sorrow.
Jindaynim began gaining recognition in 2016 through busking in Hongdae and released albums like 'Naturalism' and 'Bloom' under the name SingSing in 2017. Changing his stage name to Jindaynim in 2020, he released popular tracks such as 'Venus of the Moon' and 'Fairy Tale.'
Jindaynim's music reflects the inner struggles he faced. Although his compositions and unique style provided deep comfort to young fans, it is unfortunate that this pain ultimately contributed to his untimely death. His fans engaged in a dialogue with him through his music, enabling them to understand and empathize with his suffering.
Through his musical activities, Jindaynim built a bond with his fans while revealing his pain. This was not merely about releasing songs, but a genuine sharing of emotions. However, his struggles became overwhelming in real life, surpassing the solace found in his art.
Though his journey as an artist was brief, he garnered immense affection along the way. Through interactions with his fans, he became not just an artist, but a deeply emotional individual. His passing has left a significant impact on his fans and serves as a stark reminder of the pressing mental health issues within the industry.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: Jindaynim SNS
