Pop Star's Father 'Killed Himself Over Parents' Illness

The father of Leeteuk of boy band Super Junior, who committed suicide on Monday morning after strangling his parents, suffered from mounting financial problems compounded by the ailing health of his parents, according to police.

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Lee's father had apparently intended to send his parents to a nursing home the following day. Lee's grandfather suffered from dementia and his grandmother's health was deteriorating as well.

The walls of the home where the bodies were found were plastered with photos of the Super Junior star, but his fame was not enough to solve the financial problems Lee's father faced.

Police in Dongjak District said the bodies were found at around 9:20 a.m. on Monday. "They are believed to have died at around 11 p.m. on Sunday and the investigation has revealed that Park [Leeteuk's father] strangled his parents and took his own life by hanging himself", a police officier said.

A suicide note found in the room said, "I will take my parents with me", according to police.

Park divorced his wife in 1998 and lived alone with his parents. He was a caring son, but faced increasing difficulties taking care of them after they began suffering from dementia. One neighbor said, "The grandfather often had problems finding his way back home, while the grandmother was always in a wheelchair and went to the hospital frequently".

Park's mother was also diagnosed with terminal lung cancer last year.

Lee's relatives told police that his father's business teetered on the verge of bankruptcy and it became hard for him to make a living, which caused him to become depressed. Park finally decided to put his parents in a nursing home but apparently changed his mind at the last minute and killed them before hanging himself.

Experts say family members of dementia patients often despair when they feel that things can only get worse. People may diligently care for their senile mothers or fathers but give up when their condition does not improve despite long periods of treatment.

Park appears to have grown despondent after learning that his mother was showing signs of dementia too.