The K-Pop Girl Group Member Stabbed To Death By Her Ex-Boyfriend

In 2013, the K-Pop world was rocked by a horrifying tragedy—the brutal murder of Lee Eun Mi, a rising singer and member of the girl group IRIS. At just 24 years old, Eun Mi’s promising career was cut short in one of the most disturbing cases of violence against a Korean idol.

IRIS.

Lee Eun Mi was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, only named in media  by his last name Cho, in a fit of jealousy and rage. After she attempted to end their relationship, Cho lured her to a motel in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, where he stabbed her a shocking 65 times, primarily in the neck and abdomen. According to police reports, he brought a weapon with him and had clearly premeditated the attack. Security footage showed him purchasing the knife days earlier.

Following the gruesome killing, Cho calmly walked into a nearby police station and confessed to the crime. His motive, according to investigators, stemmed from resentment and emotional instability after their breakup. In court, he expressed limited remorse, further enraging the public and Eun Mi’s grieving family.

Lee Eun Mi.

Cho was originally sentenced to 20 years in prison, but this was later reduced to 17 years after he reportedly paid the victim’s family 10 million in “blood money,” a controversial element of the Korean justice system where compensation can influence sentencing.

Netizens were outraged, calling the punishment far too lenient for such a brutal and senseless crime. Many criticized the courts for allowing monetary compensation to affect sentencing in a murder case. Lee Eun Mi debuted as a vocalist in IRIS, a little-known group that was just starting to gain attention at the time. Friends and fans remembered her as bright, hardworking, and passionate about music.

Her death became a wake-up call in South Korea regarding domestic violence and the vulnerability of young entertainers. More than a decade later, her case remains one of the darkest stories in K-Pop history, a sobering reminder of the very real dangers some idols face away from the spotlight.