SEOUL, KOREA: Two celebrities have committed suicide in a span of a week shocking fans and prompting the government to act on ‘cyber-bullying’.

Choi Jin-sil, an iconic actress, was found dead on 2 Oct in an apparent suicide, which came after the death of Ahn Jae-hwan, another much-beloved actor, early last month.

Four days later, Jang Chae-won, a transgender entertainer, was also found dead in her home hanging from her bathroom window with stockings tied around her neck.

Police dismissed claims that slanderous Internet rumors had driven Jang to suicide, as they are thought to have done to Choi.

“Jang is believed to have died of grief over a broken relationship with her boyfriend,” police said.

Choi, meanwhile, had been targeted by Internet gossip that she lent a large sum of money to Ahn, who was reportedly under pressure from mounting debt. Online rumors accused Choi as being one of the reasons behind Ahn’s suicide. (The Korea Herald/ AsiaNews)