Police were still investigating her cause of death and Yonhap news agency reported they were “keeping the possibility of suicide in consideration”.

Goo Hara’s tragic final Instagram post was ‘goodnight’

Fans mourning Goo’s death flocked to her funeral home on Monday, while her colleagues cancelled their schedules and relayed condolences.

The ex, hairdresser Choi Jong-bum, threatened “to end her entertainment career” by leaking the footage, and a CCTV clip of the couple showed the singer kneeling before him apparently begging him not to.

In the conservative South, women who appear in such videos often feel shame – despite being the victims – and can become ostracised and social isolated if the images become public.

The man was convicted of multiple crimes including blackmail in August and was given a suspended jail term, but the star had been targeted by abusive online comments since the incident.

Before her body was discovered on Sunday her Instagram account was flooded with hate comments about her appearance and her history with her ex.

“It is so sad that she had to suffer from vicious, inhumane comments at such a young age just because she was a celebrity,” said 20-year-old student Kim Nam-gun, one of about two dozen fans who gathered at the funeral home.

Goo made her debut in 2008 with Kara – for several years one of the two biggest K-pop girl groups – and pursued a solo career after the group broke up, completing a tour of Japan last week.

Her death led to an online petition on the website of the South’s presidential office calling for stronger punishments for cybercrimes and abusive online comments, which garnered more than 20,000 signatures in less than a day.

“It was not long ago that we lost someone through hate comments and this cannot happen again,” the petition said. “Please protect the people from hate comments and criticisms that are spreading like a virus.”

South Korea has one of the world’s highest rates of suicide which, according to recent government figures, is among the top causes of death for those under 40. Taboos about mental illness also dissuade many South Koreans from seeking help.

K-pop stars like Goo and Sulli are picked up by agencies at a young age – usually in their early- or mid-teens – and live under tight control, with their days taken over by gruelling singing and dancing training.

Earlier this year Goo had spoken out about abusive comments, depression, and her difficult life as a celebrity.

“We have to be careful about every move we make in our lives and are suffering from a pain that we can’t share even with our friends and family,” said Goo, adding that anyone can struggle with depression.

“You all have freedom of expression, but can you please look back on yourself before posting a hate comment?”

One of Goo’s close friends, rapper DinDin, expressed his grief in a social media post, writing: “When I started becoming famous, you worried about me and told me to call you whenever I had a hard time. You were always beautiful and shiny. But I’m really sorry that I have not done anything for you and could not help.”

What an Asian-American’s ‘death by text’ says about social media

Actress Park Min-young sent a message with pictures featuring her and Goo taken in the 2011 drama City Hunter, in which they co-starred. She wrote: “It deeply saddens me that I can’t be with you for your last moment. You will always be cute Ha-ra to me. Rest in peace.”

Fans mourned the star’s death and lamented that she was unable to hear the voices of support.

“The stars appear to have a shining presence but they live with a pain that no one will understand,” a fan wrote on Goo’s Instagram account. “How many more victims after Sulli and Goo will there have to be to understand that hate comments hurt others?”

Another fan wrote: “Maybe you couldn’t hear the voices of love and support because the voices of hate were too loud. My heart aches.”

Additional reporting by Reuters, Korea Times