All the usual reasons and plausible explanations have surfaced to help explain why Jang Ja-yeon might have chosen to take her own life. The pretty Korean star of Boys Over Flowers, the hit drama serial showing on TV now in the country based on the hit Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango, was set to be one of the breakout stars in 2009 with a few movies set to debut this year. Jang Ja-yeon was said to have run-ins and trouble with her management agency, tough schedule and the requisite Korean show business disease – depression. Her sister mentioned that Ja-yeon wanted to die due to all the pressure she was feeling and put under.

While being under the media glare and spotlight will undoubtedly bring its stress and pressure, and stars should learn how to handle it properly, perhaps their management agencies should also do their part by not putting them under undue pressure and help them to cope with the work and schedules. On hindsight it might have been good to help her get help for the depression but then pushing her to work even harder at the same time just doesn’t help.

One wonders how many more Korean stars will choose to end their lives this year?