The family of Kim Jong-seok, a South Korean model who passed away on June 4, has publicly addressed false rumors surrounding the circumstances of his death, clarifying that he was not involved in any violent incident or police escape, but had recently been defrauded of his entire fortune.

On June 9, Kim’s older sister posted on Instagram to set the record straight regarding misleading media coverage.

“Claims that Jong-seok stormed his girlfriend’s house drunk and caused a disturbance with a soju bottle, then jumped to his death after the police arrived, are completely false,” she wrote.

“He was suffering immensely, both financially and emotionally, after falling victim to a scam by someone he trusted. He lost everything and was struggling with debt. His death was the result of overwhelming despair, not a violent outburst.”

What Actually Happened

According to Kim’s sister, on the night of the incident, both Kim and his girlfriend were out separately with friends. When Kim could not reach his girlfriend by phone, he went to her residence with a friend out of concern.

At the time, the girlfriend, her sister, and her sister’s boyfriend were asleep, while Kim, his friend, and another male acquaintance were awake and chatting. A verbal argument later broke out between Kim and his girlfriend, not a physical altercation, the sister emphasized.

In the midst of the argument, Kim’s friend broke a soju bottle in an attempt to stop the situation from escalating, which led to the police being called.

“Jong-seok didn’t flee or avoid the police,” his sister added, offering to share audio recordings and text messages from those involved to verify the truth.

She concluded by asking the public and media to refrain from spreading malicious comments or unfounded rumors:

“Our family, friends, and those who knew him are already grieving deeply. Please stop mocking or defaming the deceased. False and defamatory content has been reported, and further legal action will be taken.”

The Official Police Account

The Gyeonggi Hanam Police confirmed receiving a 112 emergency call at 9:38 a.m. on June 4 regarding a disturbance at an officetel in Mangwol-dong. After separating those involved and advising them to go home, Kim left the building at 9:50 a.m., only to jump from the rooftop around 20 minutes later, resulting in his death.

Kim was a model known for his work in beauty and fashion, gaining recognition through YouTube Shorts for the male cosmetics brand Dashu. He also appeared in tvN’s dating reality show “Skip” in 2022.

The family’s statement offers a poignant reminder of the devastating effects of financial fraud and mental health struggles. As mourning continues, they urge the public to remember Kim Jong-seok not for rumors, but for his talent, kindness, and the pain he silently endured.