Sulli (설리)

Choi Jin Ri, known professionally as Sulli, first came to public attention as a member of SM Entertainment's girl group f(x), where she served as the group's visual and face of the group alongside roles as sub vocalist and sub rapper. Over the years she built a parallel profile as an actress, earning recognition at the KBS Drama Awards, before her death in October 2019 prompted a wide public reckoning with the pressures faced by young women in the Korean entertainment industry.

Debut and career with f(x)

Sulli debuted with f(x) under SM Entertainment, joining a lineup that became one of the more experimentally oriented girl groups of its generation. Within the group she occupied a dual presence — a recognized visual whose screen appeal also translated into a sustained acting career running concurrently with her music work.

Acting and solo activities

Beyond f(x), Sulli developed a notable career in Korean television and film, work that earned her a KBS Drama Award. She eventually stepped back from group activities to focus on her individual path, a decision that drew intense public and media scrutiny at the time.

Legacy

Sulli passed away on October 14, 2019. In the years since, her name has become part of a broader conversation in South Korea about online harassment, mental health, and the conditions placed on public figures — particularly young women — in the entertainment industry. Posthumous releases, including unreleased childhood photographs shared in 2026, have continued to draw public reflection on her life and the contrast between the brightness she projected publicly and the difficulties she faced privately.