K-Pop singer and actor Lee Ji Han has been named as one of the victims of the crowd crush that killed at least 154 people over the weekend in South Korea.
Scores of party-goers - mostly teens and twenties - headed to Itaewon's popular nightlife district on Saturday night to celebrate Halloween.
It was the first time unrestricted celebrations had been allowed since the COVID-19 pandemic, but things changed when crowds rushed into a small, sloping alley.
Now, two days after the tragedy, Ji Han's representatives have confirmed his death. "It’s true that Lee Ji Han passed away due to the accident in Itaewon on October 29," his agency wrote in an Instagram post.
"We also hoped that it wasn’t true, and we were very shocked to hear the news. The family is suffering immense grief right now, so we are being very cautious. May he rest in peace."
Ji Han rose to fame in 2017 when he competed in the second season of Produce 101, which saw 101 contestants compete for a place in the 11-member K-pop group lineup.
In 2019, he went on to make his acting debut, starring in popular K-drama Today Was another Nam Hyun Day.
Celebrity fans and friends alike quickly paid tribute to the 24-year-old, including his co-stars on Produce 101. “Ji Han has left this world and gone to a comfortable place. We ask that you say goodbye to him on his final path," co-stars Park Hee Seok, Kim Do Hyun, and Cho Jin Hyung said in a joint statement.
Funerals for victims are already underway and the South Korean government has said it will provide up to 15 million won (£9,100) to cover funeral expenses. According to AllKPop, Ji Han's funeral will take place on November 1.
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