A Japanese fan of the K-pop group ENHYPEN known online as Mina Chan has died by suicide at age 26 after days of intense online harassment, according to Yonhap News Agency and South Korea's Korea Herald. The death, which occurred during a TikTok livestream from her residence in South Korea on August 5, has triggered a wave of grief and anger within the ENHYPEN fandom and placed member Nishimura Riki, known as Ni-ki, at the center of a growing controversy.
According to Yonhap News Agency, police were alerted around 5:33 a.m. on August 5 after one of Mina's acquaintances contacted emergency services. The Yongsan Police Station told the Korea Herald that officers found her dead upon arrival. Multiple viewers on TikTok and X reportedly tried to alert authorities while the livestream was still ongoing, according to Yahoo News. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation by the Yongsan Police Station.
Mina Chan's younger sister confirmed the death in an Instagram Story the following day, as reported by the Daily Mail. "My beloved older sister, who was always kind and warm to everyone she met, has passed away," the message read. "I kindly ask that you keep my sister in your thoughts and prayers."
Mina was a well-known figure within the ENHYPEN fan community, with more than 11,000 followers on X and roughly 78,000 to 80,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, according to fan accounts cited by the Times of India and Yahoo News. She reportedly graduated from Rikkyo University in Japan earlier this year and had been living in South Korea.
A Fansign Incident And A Public Apology
The controversy that preceded her death traces back to a fansign event in the United States last month, where Mina attempted to have ENHYPEN member Sunoo pass flowers to fellow member Ni-ki, who is also Japanese. Some fans accused her of overstepping boundaries during the interaction, and she quickly faced backlash online.
On July 31, Mina posted a lengthy apology on X. "Sunoo knows very well that I like Sunki," she wrote, using a fan term combining Sunoo and Ni-ki. "The sunflowers were prepared for Sunoo and the roses for Ni-ki. Wanting to see a two-shot of those two was my own wish. As a result, I feel like my actions ended up taking advantage of Sunoo's kindness. I'm truly sorry."
She continued, "By attending ENHYPEN's fansigns multiple times, I had deluded myself into thinking I was closer to the members than I actually was. I deeply regret the rude behaviour I exhibited in America. I ruined the atmosphere of the venue by prioritising my own desire to meet Ni-ki over the precious time Ni-ki, who loves America so much, deserved."
Despite the apology, Mina continued to receive hostile messages, according to the Times of India. She shared screenshots of abusive direct messages on Instagram before her death, including one that read, "You only ever see the good side of things, so you're staying positive. Seriously, please graduate from being a fan already. Watching you act all superior honestly made me sick." Mina responded to her critics, writing, "Why do I have to be told things like this by complete strangers?" The Standard, a Hong Kong outlet, reported that Mina closed her fan account on August 1, four days before her death.
Ni-ki's Livestream Remarks And The Backlash That Followed
Much of the online anger following Mina's death has centered on comments Ni-ki made during a livestream on either July 30 or July 31, according to differing accounts from the Standard and the Times of India. During the broadcast, he spoke about fans who try to draw attention to themselves at events.
"Live venues are places where everyone can be happy," Ni-ki said, according to the Times of India. "It's a shame there was someone trying to get noticed and show off. That's kinda disappointing to see some people just want attention for themselves. When I see that, the vibe drops."
Ni-ki did not name anyone in his remarks, but many fans believed he was referring to Mina, who had recently posted photos from the fansign event involving Ni-ki and Sunoo. Neither Ni-ki nor his agency, BELIFT LAB, has confirmed that the comments were directed at Mina, and the Standard reported that the alleged connection between his remarks and her death has not been independently verified.
The controversy intensified further when Ni-ki made his first public appearance since Mina's death at ENHYPEN's "BLOOD SAGA" world tour concert in Busan on August 8, according to the Standard. He appeared energetic on stage, smiling and interacting with bandmates and fans. During the show, he told the crowd, "ENGENE and us really share the same feelings, so let's create more unforgettable memories together," referencing the group's fandom name.
His cheerful demeanor drew sharply mixed reactions online. Some fans accused him of appearing insensitive given the timing so soon after Mina's death, while others defended him, arguing that he was fulfilling a previously scheduled performance obligation and that a professional stage presence did not necessarily reflect his private feelings about the situation.
Condolences And Criticism Within The Fandom
In the wake of Mina's death, tributes and condolences flooded her final Instagram posts. "The amount of hate, harassment and blame-shifting in this fandom is genuinely disgusting," one follower wrote, according to Yahoo News. "We lost a sweet, beautiful and kind girl with a big heart. May you rest peacefully, beautiful girl."
The case has reignited broader concerns about online harassment within K-pop fan communities, where devoted fans, sometimes called "sasaengs" when their behavior crosses into obsessive territory, can face intense scrutiny and public shaming from other fans over perceived breaches of fan etiquette. Mina's death has prompted renewed calls within the ENHYPEN fandom and beyond for greater accountability around cyberbullying, even as the precise chain of events linking Ni-ki's remarks to the harassment she faced remains unconfirmed by any official party.
The investigation by Seoul's Yongsan Police Station into the circumstances of Mina Chan's death is ongoing, and no additional statements have been issued by BELIFT LAB or ENHYPEN's members beyond Ni-ki's remarks at the Busan concert.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-8255, or by texting the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
