Akdong Club, a five-member male idol group, debuted in 2002 after being selected through an MBC program.
The group quickly gained popularity and won the Rookie of the Year award that same year. After the group’s disbandment, Lee Tae-geun continued his music career with a new group called The A.D., alongside Jung Yi-deun, Jung Yoon-don, and Yang Chi-hwan.
In February 2022, Lee Tae-geun’s wife posted a distressing petition on the Blue House petition board, revealing the heartbreaking details of his health decline. According to his family, Lee Tae-geun began experiencing severe side effects after his third COVID-19 vaccine dose, including headaches and vomiting. He was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage and admitted to the ICU, as reported by The Korea Times.
At that time, his wife said, “The attending doctor explained that subarachnoid hemorrhages are usually caused by trauma, but in my husband’s case, there was no trauma, and the cause of the bleeding couldn’t be identified. There is no specific treatment plan or method.”
She further added, “It is frustrating that they cannot explain the connection between the vaccine and these symptoms, despite them occurring after the vaccination.”
Lee Tae-geun’s condition deteriorated further, with his wife describing his situation in the ICU as critical. He lost over 20 kilograms, could not eat, and was unable to receive nutritional supplements. She made a desperate appeal for assistance to save her husband, according to The Korea Times.
Despite his family’s efforts, no compensation was awarded to Lee Tae-geun, as a definitive link between the vaccine and his subarachnoid hemorrhage was not established.
His untimely death has led to an outpouring of grief and condolences from fans and the broader K-pop community.
