Late Park Dong-bin leaves behind his 3-year-old daughter, born late in life... a heartbreaking story of 'heart surgery' [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Park Dong-bin (real name Park Jong-moon) has passed away at the age of 54, leaving behind his 3-year-old daughter, born late in life, evoking deep sorrow.

According to the entertainment industry on the 30th, Park Dong-bin was found deceased on the 29th. He was 56 years old. According to the Gyeonggi Pungtaek Police Station, Park was found dead in a restaurant inside a commercial building in Jangdong, Pungtaek, Gyeonggi, around 4:25 p.m. on the 29th. It is reported that an acquaintance discovered him and reported the incident to the police.

According to the police investigation, no signs of homicide or other criminal acts have been confirmed so far, and no suicide note was found. It is known that Park had been preparing to open a Korean restaurant at the same eatery until recently.

News of Park Dong-bin's death has drawn attention to his wife, actress Lee Sang-i, and their late-born daughter.

Park married Lee Sang-i, an actress from the same agency, in 2020 and welcomed their late-born daughter, Park Ji-yoo, in January 2023 through in vitro fertilization.

Later, in 2024, Park appeared on Channel A's 'Oh Eun-young's Gold Consultation' with his wife, sharing his concerns about parenting. At the time, Park, who revealed he had a daughter at the age of 54, said, "I am happy to have given birth to a child, but lately I find myself thinking about numbers. When my daughter enters middle school, I will be 66. I once took my daughter somewhere, and someone said, 'Ji-yoo, your grandfather came last week.' I worry that this might hurt my daughter in the future." He expressed his unique feelings toward his daughter.

Park also revealed that his daughter, Ji-yoo, was diagnosed with congenital complex heart defects and underwent surgery. Explaining why his daughter began walking late, Park stated, "During the seventh month of pregnancy, she was diagnosed with congenital complex heart defects. The condition, known as left ventricular hypoplasia syndrome, involves the failure of the left ventricle and aorta to develop properly. Without a heart transplant or staged surgeries, the condition is fatal. We opted for staged surgeries, and the third procedure has been completed." Ji-yoo underwent her first surgery just four days after birth, which has evoked further sorrow.

As such, condolences continue to pour in for Park Dong-bin, who passed away before his young daughter.

Meanwhile, the late Park Dong-bin graduated from Chung-Ang University's Department of Theater and Film and made his debut in the 1996 film 'A Bank Tree Bed.' He later gained recognition through the 1998 film 'Shiri' and appeared in numerous works, including 'It Can Be Done,' 'Danjeokbiyeonsu,' 'Hwasango,' 'Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War,' and 'Three Musketeers of Joseon.'

He also starred in dramas such as 'The Age of the People,' 'Immortal Yi Sun-sin,' 'Dae Jo-yeong,' 'King and I,' 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal,' 'Gwanggaeto the Great,' 'The Great Wife,' 'Surviving as an Entertainment Manager,' and 'The Woman Who Devoured the Sun.'

Notably, in the 2012 drama 'I Think I Loved You,' he became a topic of discussion for a scene in which he spits out orange juice after hearing shocking news, earning him the nickname 'Juice Uncle.'

The wake was held at the Do-min Funeral Hall in Anseong, Gyeonggi. The funeral procession will take place at 8:30 a.m. on May 1. The late's remains will be interred at U-seong Park Cemetery via Yongin Pyeongon Forest. Survivors include his wife, daughter, two sisters, and one younger brother.

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*This content was translated by AI.