Photo credit: Choi Sung-Bong Fan Page

Choi Sung-bong, a singer who rose to fame as the runner-up on the popular audition program "Korea's Got Talent," has passed away, according to Yonhap News Agency in South Korea.

The 33-year-old artist was found dead at his residence in the Yeoksam-dong district of southern Seoul on Tuesday morning at approximately 9:41 a.m., as confirmed by the police and fire authorities.

Choi Sung-bong gained widespread recognition after captivating the nation with his remarkable performances on "Korea's Got Talent," which aired on tvN in 2011. However, in 2021, he faced a significant decline in public visibility due to his involvement in a sponsorship scandal. The talented operatic pop singer had been falsely claiming to be battling multiple cancers, which allowed him to receive substantial financial support.

Choi publicly confessed to his wrongdoings and expressed his intention to reimburse the donations he had received.

Contents of a note found by authorities showed remorse. "I sincerely apologize to all who suffered from my foolish mistake," and he assured that all the donated funds had been returned,” he said in his letter.