South Korean actor Jung Eun Woo, 39, dies after leaving cryptic last message on Instagram

South Korean actor Jung Eun Woo died aged 39 on Feb. 11, 2026, The Chosun Daily reported.

His cause of death has not been revealed.

Cryptic message

This comes a day after Jung shared a cryptic Instagram post on Feb. 10.

He shared photos of Hong Kong actor-singer Leslie Cheung, who died in 2003, and British singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011.

These were accompanied by Winehouse's song "Back To Black".

Jung ended the post with a photo of himself, with the caption "Missing, jealous, sorry... PIR.BG".

In online discussion threads, some suggested that it could be an abbreviation for "Good Bye Rest In Peace", written in reverse.

Another of Jung's recent Instagram posts was also accompanied by a cryptic caption: "Red moon. Whether it's hanging there or suspended, it's going to fall anyway..."

Tribute

Following reports of Jung's death, colleagues and fans alike have paid tribute to the late actor.

Pop artist Nancy Lang commented on his post, expressing how sad she felt and that she did not know the images he posted were a signal from the day before his death.

South Korean actress Kim Yoon Seo paid tribute to Jung via an Instagram post: "Eun-woo. Hello. Sorry. I let you go like this without even saying goodbye properly."

Kim added that she felt heartbroken: "You've been through a lot. I'll pray for you. Goodbye, my friend."

Jung's fans have also taken to his comments section to pay tribute to the late actor.

Career

Prior to his death, Jung gained recognition early in his career for his roles in "My Only One", "The Return of Hwang Geum-bok", and "One Well-Raised Daughter".

Jung also appeared in popular Korean dramas including "Welcome To Waikiki 2" and "Bride Of The Sun".

His final work was the film "Memory: Manipulated Murder" in 2021.

Helplines

If you or someone you know is in mental distress, here are some hotlines you can call to seek help, advice, or just a listening ear:

National mindline.sg Hotline: 1771 (24 hours)

National mindline.sg WhatsApp: 66691771 (24 hours)

SOS 24-hour Hotline: 1-767

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Centre for Domestic Employees: 1800 225 5233 (24 hours)

Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training: 1800 339 4357 (24 hours)

HOME: 1800 797 7977 or +65 9787 3122 (WhatsApp / Viber / SMS)

Top photos via eun_woo109/Instagram