by REERA YOO
A second member of the K-pop girl group Ladies’ Code died after succumbing to injuries sustained from the same car accident that claimed the life of Go Eun Bi (EunB).
Kwon Rise, 23, died on the morning of Sept. 7 at a hospital in Suwon, just south of Seoul. She had remained unconscious after undergoing more than 10 hours of emergency brain surgery following Wednesday’s accident, said Polaris Entertainment agency spokeswoman Kim Eun-kyung.
It’s been reported that Kwon’s parents, who flew from Japan, and her agency staff members stayed by her bedside until she drew her final breath.
On Sept. 3, fellow band member EunB passed away shortly after the van crashed into a guard rail on the rain-drenched Yeongdong Expressway near Seoul. Lee Sojung, another member of the five-member group, fractured her jaw from the accident whereas the two remaining members sustained only minor injuries and were treated for shock.
Police suspect that the van may have been speeding on the rainy road in order to meet the band’s tight schedule. Inspector Lee Ho-dong said that that the driver, who was treated for minor injuries, will be called in for more questioning.
“We are investigating the exact cause of the accident. But it’s difficult because the highway section where the crash occurred did not have a closed-circuit television camera,” Lee told the Associated Press, adding that a camera from inside the van was sent to the National Forensic Service.
Ladies’ Code’s van was driving toward Seoul when it was involved in a crash on Sept. 3. (Photo Credit: Yonhap)
It’s been revealed by Polaris Entertainment that the vehicle that carried Ladies’ Code was driven for the first time on the day of the accident, as it was a rental car. The agency also stated that the driver of the group’s van, Mr. Park, is not new to driving and has been an experienced manager of many years for the company.
“During his continuous activities as a road manager, he has not experienced any particular accidents,” said the agency’s representatives.
Kwon Rise passed away a day before Chuseok, also known as Korean Thanksgiving, a holiday known for its family gatherings. (Photo Credit: Star News)
Kwon’s wake is currently being held at the Korea University Anam Hospital, where EunB’s wake also held, and will continue until Sept. 9, when her funeral procession will take place. According to Naver, numerous celebrities have already attended the wake including singer Lee Eun Mi, Kwon’s mentor from Birth of a Great Star, the audition program that discovered her. Fellow contestants David Oh and Noh Ji Hoon were also in attendance along with MCs Yoo Jae Suk and Kim Jaedong. In addition, many celebrities have taken to twitter to express their condolences.
(Photo Credit: hyunasback.tumblr.com)
Ladies’ Code debuted last year and recently made a comeback with their song “Kiss Kiss” before the accident took place. EunB and Kwon were known to have shared a close bond as the two were roommates and best friends.
Since the deaths of the two young K-pop singers, the local media are now questioning the safety of idol groups’ overwhelming schedules and South Korea’s road conditions.
Featured photo via HelloKpop
