Influencer Mina Chan Dies at 25 After Distressing Livestream as Family Addresses Online Criticism

11 August 2026

Japanese social media influencer Mina Chan has died at the age of 25, leaving behind a large online community and prompting renewed conversations about cyberbullying, creator mental health and the consequences of intense criticism on social media.

Chan reportedly died by suicide during a livestream from her residence in Seoul, South Korea, on August 5. Authorities responded after concerns were raised about her safety, and a woman in her 20s was found dead at approximately 5:33 a.m. Seoul's Yongsan Police Station has not publicly identified the woman, and authorities are continuing to investigate the death.

Chan had developed a substantial following through her lifestyle, fashion and beauty content. She had more than 300,000 followers on her since-deleted TikTok account and approximately 150,000 followers on Instagram. She was also widely known within the K-pop community as an enthusiastic supporter of the group ENHYPEN.

Her family confirmed her death publicly, explaining that they were able to bring Chan home on August 9, the day that would have marked her 26th birthday. Her sister had previously shared an emotional message remembering Chan as someone who was consistently warm and kind to the people she encountered. In the period before her death, Chan had faced significant criticism online.

Reports said some of the backlash followed an interaction at an ENHYPEN event in July. Chan had attempted to give flowers to group member Ni-ki through fellow member Sunoo. Some fans criticized the interaction and accused her of behaving inappropriately toward the performers.

Chan subsequently apologized publicly, expressing regret and acknowledging that repeatedly attending fan events had caused her to feel closer to the performers than she actually was. Despite that apology, criticism surrounding her reportedly continued.

Her family later addressed the impact of the negative attention, saying Chan had been deeply hurt by critical comments posted on social media. They encouraged people to think carefully about how their words, photographs and videos might affect others before sharing them publicly.

The circumstances surrounding Chan's death have since generated a wider discussion about online harassment and the pressures experienced by people whose lives become highly visible on social platforms.

Videos reportedly taken from the livestream also circulated online following her death. Sharing such material can intensify the trauma experienced by surviving relatives, friends and followers, particularly when disturbing footage is removed from its original context and repeatedly redistributed.

Chan's family focused their public message on gratitude rather than controversy. They thanked the friends and supporters who had shown her kindness, as well as members of the Korean community who had welcomed her while she lived in South Korea.

Her death leaves behind a digital presence that had originally been built around interests far removed from tragedy. Through fashion, cosmetics, lifestyle posts and her enthusiasm for K-pop, Chan connected with hundreds of thousands of people across multiple platforms.

The investigation into her death remains ongoing, and some details surrounding the circumstances have not been publicly confirmed by authorities. What is clear is that the loss has shaken the online communities that followed her.

Chan's death also serves as a painful reminder that interactions taking place through a screen can have consequences far beyond the digital world. Behind every creator account is a person capable of being affected by the enormous volume of judgment that online visibility can bring. For those mourning Mina Chan, her family's message offers a lasting request: consider the human being receiving the words before choosing to post them.