Comedian Seo Se-won Dies Suddenly in Cambodia at 67, Despite Seemingly Healthy Life
Comedian Seo Se-won passed away suddenly on the 20th in a Cambodian hospital at the age of 67.
According to the Cambodian Korean Association, Seo Se-won experienced cardiac arrest while receiving IV fluids at a hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on the morning of the 20th (local time). Despite emergency treatment attempts by nearby medical staff, he passed away that afternoon.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of a South Korean citizen in Cambodia during a call with MyDaily on the afternoon of the 20th but could not disclose any personal information. They also stated, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the bereaved family."
Seo Se-won was receiving IV fluids at the hospital before his death. He was known to be in good health.
A local expatriate told KBS in an interview, "I often saw him actively at restaurants. He seemed to have no problems in his daily life, smoking with acquaintances and joking around."
His family is in mourning. One Star Company told MyDaily, "Seo Dong-ju is sad to hear the news. We are confirming the facts with the family."
Seo Se-won made his debut in 1979 through TBC Radio. He appeared on MBC's "Young 11," "March of Youth," "Sunday Sunday Night," and hosted the highly popular KBS 2TV talk show "Seo Se-won Show" from 1996 to 2002. He enjoyed the peak of his career, winning the KBS Comedy Grand Prize in 1995 and receiving the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism commendation in 1997.
In 2001, the film "My Wife is a Gangster," which he co-produced, attracted 5.25 million viewers according to the distributor's tally, achieving great success. The following year, he established SS1 Cinema and ventured into the film distribution business.
However, in 2003, he was indicted and sentenced to 10 months in prison and two years of probation for bribing broadcasting company PDs with 8 million won and evading 370 million won in taxes. In 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of probation for stock price manipulation and embezzlement of company funds.
In 2014, Seo Se-won was charged with assaulting and domestic violence against his then-wife, Seo Jung-hee. Seo Se-won, who had become a pastor while attending Shinhak University, was expelled from his affiliated church due to the incident. He married Seo Jung-hee in 1982, and they had a son, Seo Dong-cheon, and a daughter, Seo Dong-ju. The couple divorced after 32 years of marriage in 2015. The following year, he remarried a woman 23 years his junior, a geomungo player named Kim, and they had a daughter.
Seo Se-won subsequently immigrated to Cambodia. In March, a YouTuber shared a recent sighting of him attending a church service in Cambodia.
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