R&B Singer Found In Apartment

Lee Min of As One

BRANDNEW MUSIC Co.

The Korean music industry is mourning after the sudden and unexpected death of Lee Min. The Korean-American singer debuted in 1999 as one half of the duo As One with her band mate Crystal and spent over 25 years active in the scene, recently releasing new music this past summer. Lee was 46.

BrandNew Music, the music agency representing Lee and As One, confirmed the news to Korean newspaper Hankook Ilbo on Wednesday, August 6. “It is true that Lee Min has passed away,” a representative is quoted saying per The Korea Herald. “The police are currently investigating the exact circumstances. The company is also still trying to understand the situation.”

Soompi adds that a BrandNew Music representative also shared, “Last night, Lee Min’s husband discovered her when he returned home. The police are conducting an investigation. We ask that people refrain from excessive speculation until the results are released.”

The Korea Herald added that music industry sources first reported on Wednesday that Lee was found dead at her home on the previous afternoon on Tuesday, August 5.

Min Lee Biography: From Los Angeles to Late ’90s K-Pop Fame

Born on December 15, 1978, Min Lee (neé Lee Min-young) was born in Seoul, South Korea, but moved to the United States with her family at just eight months. Lee grew up in the Los Angeles, California area, the same city as her future As One band mate Crystal (neé Chae Da-hee), where she graduated from Fairfax High School, the SoCal school whose alumni include Mila Kunis, Demi Moore and Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In 1999, Lee and Chae debuted together as the R&B duo As One with their first album Day by Day released on November 23, 1999, during a particularly busy month for Korean-pop acts with new releases by top girl group S.E.S., boy band g.o.d, punk band Crying Nut and the dance-rap collective Koyote. Still, As One managed to stand out from the competition for their experienced vocal styles with Day by Day songs like the title track and “Wish You Wouldn’t Know” becoming beloved classics, the latter of which was covered by popular K-pop singer Gain for a compilation album in 2012. As One scored other hit songs including “Want and Resent,” “You’re Welcome” and “Do You Have to Be Sorry.”

After the release of their fourth album Restoration in 2004, the duo signed with EMI Korea and joined a roster that included top K-pop acts of the day including DJ DOC and girl group Baby V.O.X. and continued releasing singles and albums.

In 2012, the duo moved to BrandNew Music, a Korean music company founded by Korean rapper and producer Rhymer, which allowed their past works to be celebrated and shared with a new generation of K-pop listeners with songs like “Day By Day 2012” featuring rapper Verbal Jint (which hit the Top 25 of Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart) and “Want and Resent 2013” (a Top 20 hit).

While As One took an official pause from 2017 to 2019 to focus on their personal lives, the duo staged a comeback in 2019 with the signle “It’s OK Not to Be OK” featuring popular singer Lee Dae-hwi, a member of BrandNew Music’s first boy band AB6IX.

As One hosted the radio program K-Popular on TBS eFM radio while remaining active as singers, dropping several holiday and live albums through their career. Most recently, the duo dropped two singles in 2025 including the harmony-heavy mid-tempo English track “Still My Baby” featuring singer Bumkey, as well as a piano R&B cut “Happy Birthday to You” in June.

The K-Pop Industry Remembers Min Lee

Jae Chong, the Seoul-born and Los Angeles–raised producer who has worked with artists like Uhm Jung-hwa, BoA, Jolin Tsai, JYJ and Aziatikx, shared his condolences through social media.

“Just lost another great artist and friend,” Chong wrote on his Instagram alongside photos of him with Lee. “I met Min when she was just 17 with big dreams and took her out to Korea to pursue a career in music back in 1998. I watched her career blossom as an artist. Always considered her as family. She was the most optimistic, positive person I knew. She will be missed dearly. Rest in peace.”

Singer Kim Hyun-sung, who debuted in 1997 and also staged a musical comeback in the 2010s, also shared his condolences on social media. “I wanted to get in touch with you,” he said according to the Maeil Business Newspaper. “I shouldn’t have hesitated. I already miss your smile and the sound of your laugh.”