On October 27, Sports Chosun reported that Ahn Young Jae passed away on October 21 at the age of 30 due to cardiac arrest, with the underlying cause linked to side effects from painkillers he had relied on since a severe stage accident. News of his death left fans shocked and grieving, with many expressing condolences and hoping his family finds strength during this painful time.
More than two years ago, Ahn Young Jae suffered a devastating accident during an opera rehearsal at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. While exiting the rehearsal room, a steel stage fixture weighing over 400kg fell from the ceiling and struck him on the shoulder. The impact caused severe spinal injuries, leaving him partially paralyzed and suffering long‑term psychological trauma.
Following the horrific incident, Ahn Young Jae struggled with mobility and relied on a wheelchair. He also developed speech and breathing difficulties—skills essential for a singer—which made returning to the stage impossible.
At the time of the accident, Ahn Young Jae was working as a freelance performer, meaning he was not covered by occupational accident insurance. He bore medical costs amounting to hundreds of millions of KRW and spent the next two years fighting civil lawsuits in pursuit of compensation.
His tragic accident sparked public concern over stage safety in Korea’s entertainment industry, exposing serious shortcomings in rehearsal procedures and safety management across performance venues.
Ahn Young Jae’s passing marks a sorrowful end to a long and painful battle—one that should serve as a wake‑up call to the industry to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.
Sources: kenh14
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