Fans around the world are mourning the sudden death of South Korean comedian Jung Se-hyup, best known for his lovable “Chow Chow” dog character. He was just 41.
According to Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper, Jung died Monday night after experiencing what’s believed to be a heart attack, though the official cause of death hasn’t been confirmed. The Korea Broadcasting Comedians Association said his passing was “unrelated to leukemia”—a disease he had bravely fought and beaten years earlier.
Friends told Soompi that Jung was with a companion when he suddenly felt chest pain and struggled to breathe. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors tried to revive him, but he went into cardiac arrest and could not be saved.
“He was still talking to the doctor when he suddenly suffered cardiac arrest,” a friend said, describing the heartbreaking moment. “The medical staff did everything they could, but he didn’t make it.”
A Fighter Who Never Stopped Making People Laugh
Jung Se-hyup first revealed his leukemia diagnosis in 2017, later sharing during a 2022 YouTube livestream that he had fully recovered after a five-year battle and a bone marrow transplant.
Following his recovery, Jung made a celebrated return to comedy, performing again on KBS’s Gag Concert, where his “Chow Chow” routine—a dog-costumed skit that became one of his trademarks—won over audiences once more.
Just last month, he attended the funeral of fellow comedian Jeon Yoo-seong, seen laughing and reminiscing with colleagues in what would become one of his final public appearances.
Jung debuted in 2008 as part of SBS’s 10th-generation special comedians, starring in hit shows like People Searching for Laughter and Gag Tonight. His “Chow Chow” sketch from Gag Tonight – Hao Chow became a breakout favorite, helping him rise to national fame.
The Gag Concert team shared their heartbreak in a statement:
“We express our deepest sympathies for the sudden passing of Jung Se-hyup. May he rest in peace.”
His funeral was held at Hambaeksan Funeral Hall in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, with a burial at Hambaeksan Memorial Park on Thursday morning.
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