Sulli

설리는 대한민국의 가수, 배우, 모델이었다. 초기에는 순수한 이미지로 알려졌으나, 이후 정신 건강과 사이버 불링에 대해 공개적으로 논하며 K-pop에서 가장 솔직한 인물 중 한 명이 되었다. 그녀는 한국에서 가장 많이 구글 검색된 인물 중 하나였다. 솔로 음악, 특히 싱글 〈Goblin〉(2019)은 더 개인적이고 실험적인 면모를 보여주었다. 팬들은 그녀의 재능뿐만 아니라 순응을 강요하는 업계에서 진정성 있게 살아가려는 용기를 기억한다.[편집]

1994년 3월 29일 부산에서 최진리라는 이름으로 태어난 설리는 이후 널리 알려진 예명 설리로 활동했다. 그녀의 본명 진리는 한국어로 '진실'을 의미하며, 나중에 솔직함으로 유명해진 그녀에게 어울리는 이름이다. 그녀는 세 명의 오빠와 함께 부산에서 자랐으며, 어릴 때부터 어머니가 연기 수업을 보내며 재능과 공연에 대한 관심을 키웠다. 2005년, 11세의 나이에 설리는 인생의 중요한 발걸음을 내딛어 혼자 서울로 이주하여 명문 공연 예술 학교인 MTM 아카데미에 다니며 노래, 춤, 연기를 종합적으로 훈련받았다.

같은 해인 2005년은 그녀의 떠오르는 경력에 중추적인 시기였다. SBS 사극 〈서동요〉에서 조연으로 전문 연기 데뷔를 했다. 다재다능한 재능을 보여준 설리는 그해 SM 엔터테인먼트 오디션에도 합격하여 연습생으로 받아들여져 K-pop 경력을 위한 공식적인 길을 시작했다. 이후 인기 K-pop 그룹 f(x)로 데뷔하기 전까지 다양한 TV 게스트 역할과 독립 영화(〈Punch Lady〉(2007), 〈BA:BO〉(2008) 등)에 출연하며 연기 포트폴리오를 계속 발전시켰다. [편집]

설리는 2009년 f(x)의 멤버로 데뷔했다. 그룹은 〈피노키오〉(2011)와 〈Electric Shock〉(2012) 등의 히트곡으로 K-pop의 선두주자 중 하나가 되었다. 2013년, f(x)는 텍사스 오스틴에서 열린 사우스 바이 사우스웨스트에서 공연한 최초의 K-pop 그룹이 되었다. 그룹 활동 중에도 설리는 만화 〈하나키미〉를 한국판으로 각색한 〈아름다운 그대에게〉(2012)에서 주연을 맡아 연기 활동을 재개했다. 그녀의 연기는 두 개의 SBS 연기대상을 안겨주었다. 이후 판타지 영화 〈해적: 바다로 간 산적〉(2014)과 드라마 〈패션왕〉(2014)에 출연했다. 2014년, 악의적인 루머와 건강 문제로 활동을 중단했다. 2015년 8월 공식적으로 f(x)를 탈퇴하고 연기에 집중했다. 이후 에스티 로더의 모델로 활동했으며, 느와르 스릴러 영화 〈리얼〉(2017)에 출연했다. 2018년에는 딘의 싱글 〈Dayfly〉에 피처링했다. 데뷔 솔로 싱글 앨범 〈Goblin〉은 2019년 6월에 발매되었다. [편집]

경력 초기에 설리는 순수하고 인형 같은 이미지와 밝은 미소로 알려졌다. 하지만 나이가 들면서 K-pop 아이돌에게 요구되는 엄격한 기대에 반발하기 시작했다. 그녀는 정신 건강 문제에 대해 공개적으로 이야기하고, 사이버 불링을 비판하며, 여성의 권리를 지지했다. 이러한 변화는 그녀를 논란의 대상으로 만들었지만, 동시에 많은 이들에게 반항의 상징이 되었다. 그녀의 소셜 미디어 활동은 솔직하고 필터 없이 전통적인 규범을 거스르는 사진과 생각을 자주 올렸다. 그녀의 사후, K-pop에서 진정성의 선구자로서의 유산은 더욱 커졌다. [편집]

Choi Seol-ri, known professionally as Sulli, cultivated a fanbase that defied the traditional hierarchy of K-pop. Though no official fandom name was ever designated during her lifetime, supporters often identified themselves as 'sullian' or simply as devotees of her solo work and her time in f(x). Following her passing, the peach emoji 🍑 emerged as the central icon of her posthumous tribute culture, adopted by fans to honor her nickname and symbolize her authentic spirit. This community transformed into a force for advocacy, launching digital campaigns and petition drives demanding stricter laws against cyberbullying in South Korea. Rituals involving peach-themed art and photos posted on her birthday and death anniversary serve as a digital shrine, preserving her memory through a collective act of remembrance that feels more intimate than typical idol worship.

Sulli's cultural footprint remains substantial, reflected in her standing within global fame metrics. She is currently the 68th most famous person in South Korea, a position she has held steady across recent cycles according to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. This placement underscores her enduring relevance in a nation where her name frequently topped search queries. Her influence extends beyond domestic borders, anchoring her legacy in a broader conversation about mental health and industry reform.[편집]

Her given name Jin-ri translates to truth in Korean, a fitting moniker for an artist who spoke candidly about her struggles. The nickname Giant Baby originated from her tall stature contrasted with her youthful features. In 2012, she appeared alongside Victoria Song in a Super Junior music video. A music critic once observed that she laughed when she wanted to laugh and cried when she wanted to cry, noting her brazen refusal to fit the mould. She was the most Googled person in South Korea in 2017.

Among the legends surrounding her life, the moment she declared 'I am not a doll' after facing backlash for wearing a bikini top became a defining act of rebellion. Fans still retell the story of her final blog post, 'I am so sorry... I am so tired,' written hours before her body was discovered, which cemented her narrative as a tragedy caused by systemic failure. The funeral scene, where over 10,000 mourners gathered holding peach signs, is often cited as an unprecedented display of public grief that sparked a national conversation about mental health.[편집]

설리는 부산에서 부모님 사이에서 태어났으며 세 명의 오빠가 있었다. 오빠 최대희는 일부 출처에서 언급된 바 있다. 그녀는 f(x) 멤버들, 특히 가족처럼 여긴 빅토리아 송과 가까웠다. [편집]

설리는 빅토리아 송, 엠버, 루나, 크리스탈 정과 함께 f(x)의 멤버였다. 2013년부터 2017년까지 다이나믹 듀오의 최자와 교제했다. 2018년 딘과 싱글 〈Dayfly〉에서 협업했다. [편집]

설리는 2013년부터 2017년까지 힙합 듀오 다이나믹 듀오의 멤버인 래퍼 최자와 공개 연애를 했습니다. 관계는 2013년에 확인되었습니다. 그들은 약 4년간 함께 지내다가 2017년에 결별한 것으로 알려졌습니다. 그녀는 2019년 사망 당시 공개된 연인 관계는 없었습니다. [편집]

Choi Jin-ri, professionally known as Sulli, was found dead on October 14, 2019, at her home in the Gwanggyo-dong neighborhood of Seongnam-si. She was 25 years old. According to police reports and statements from her family, she was discovered by a staff member who had visited her residence around 8:30 PM that evening after failing to respond to phone calls. The initial police assessment indicated no signs of foul play. The official cause of death was ruled as suicide by hanging. This determination was established through a police investigation and an autopsy conducted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency's Forensic Department. Her family stated that she had been suffering from severe depression and anxiety for some time, exacerbated by intense cyberbullying and public harassment regarding her past activities and personal choices.

While the family and police maintained the suicide ruling, some online communities initially speculated about other causes; however, these accounts were never substantiated by official medical evidence or legal findings. Her last public appearance was a promotional event for her film The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion in September 2019, shortly before her death. The Seoul Southern District Police Office conducted a thorough investigation immediately following the discovery of her body. The case was closed as a suicide without any charges filed against individuals for involvement in her death. However, the investigation led to significant legal action against those responsible for the cyberbullying that preceded her death. In the months following her passing, prosecutors indicted several internet users for defamation and causing distress. Notably, in 2020, a court sentenced two individuals to prison terms for their role in spreading malicious rumors and photos of Sulli.

These rulings marked the first time in South Korea that cyberbullies were criminally punished specifically in connection with a celebrity's suicide, setting a legal precedent. Sulli's death triggered an outpouring of grief across South Korea and internationally. Within hours of the news breaking, her name topped search engine rankings globally, and fans organized vigils outside her former agency, SM Entertainment, and at her hometown in Busan. Major K-pop peers, including members of f(x), EXO, Red Velvet, and BTS, issued heartfelt tributes on social media, sharing memories and expressing their shock. Former bandmate Krystal Jung posted a message stating, 'I will always remember you.' Institutions such as the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family condemned the culture of cyberbullying that contributed to her death, calling for stricter laws.

Streaming numbers for her music and films surged significantly in the days following her death, with her single Goblin re-entering charts worldwide. Memorial murals appeared in various districts of Seoul, particularly near her home and in Hongdae, where fans left flowers, letters, and candles. A moment of silence was observed during several major award ceremonies and variety shows in the weeks following her passing. A private funeral service was held on October 16, 2019, at the Seongsu Funeral Home in Seoul. The ceremony was attended by close family members, friends, and fellow artists, including actors Kim Soo-hyun, Park Shin-hye, and members of f(x). The service was conducted according to Buddhist rites, reflecting her personal faith. Following the service, Sulli was cremated, and her ashes were interred at a cemetery in Yangsan, Gyeongnam Province, her birthplace.

Posthumously, Sulli's estate has seen the release of her final single Goblin (which charted high) and the posthumous distribution of her acting roles, including the drama Love Alarm (where she made a cameo) and the film The Witch: Part 1. In 2020, the Sulli Foundation was established by her family to support victims of cyberbullying and promote mental health awareness, funded by proceeds from her estate and donations. Her brother, Choi Jin-ri's older sibling, has managed the estate and released occasional messages supporting her legacy and addressing legal matters concerning her digital rights.[편집]

iFANN currently estimates Sulli's estate to be worth around $5 Million as of 2026. During her career, she earned income from her music activities with f(x), acting roles, and modeling endorsements, including a partnership with Estée Lauder. After her death, her music and acting projects continue to generate revenue, though no specific estate management details have been publicly disclosed.[편집]

설리는 2012년 SBS 드라마 《아름다운 그대에게》에서의 역할로 SBS 연기대상에서 2관왕을 차지했습니다. 또한 같은 역할로 제49회 백상예술대상 후보에 올랐습니다. [편집]