The tragedy that befell Ladies’ Code shocked the world of K-pop. The accident happened as they and their crew were returning from an event in Daegu. Let’s take a look at the chronology of Ladies’ Code’s accident.
Ladies’ Code’s Car Accident Details
At about 1:30 am on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, through an official release, Polaris Entertainment explained that Ladies’ Code was on its way back to Seoul after completing an activity in Daegu. The van’s passengers included the driver, the five members, one manager, and one stylist. Precisely near Suwon, the rear wheel of the car slipped off. This, coupled with slippery road conditions due to rain, caused the car to slip. In addition, the car also reportedly rolled over several times and hit the road divider. As a result, the roof and side of the car were badly damaged. The police, highway patrol, and Road Traffic Authority did a joint experiment. The result showed that the vehicle was going 137 km/h (85 mph). The speed limit on the Yeongdong Expressway, the site of the accident, was only 100 km/h (62 mph). So, the vehicle carrying the girls was speeding by over 30 km (19 miles). The police were able to acquire a CCTV from the section of the expressway right before the site of the accident to measure the speed. They planned on wrapping up the investigation after the detailed identification results requested from the National Forensic Service came out. Previously, it was suspected that there had been a flaw in the vehicle because a back tire had fallen off. However, this was investigated as a possible effect from colliding into the protective wall. Therefore, the possibility that the accident was caused by speeding became the focus. According to Polaris Entertainment, the driver and passenger airbags in the van were not open. Some media outlets also revealed the van was trying to avoid colliding with other cars before the fatal accident occurred. The group’s agency, Polaris Entertainment, offered an official statement with details of the tragic accident: “This is Polaris Entertainment. We are letting you know the current situation concerning Ladies’ Code. Last night, after completing their schedule in Daegu, the vehicle carrying Ladies’ Code ran into a problem with the rear wheel falling off while on the way back to Seoul at around 1:30 AM in Suwon. Due to the wheel coming off on the rainy road, the vehicle spun several times before crashing into a guardrail. As a result, member EunB grievously passed away. Currently, RiSe is in critical condition and Sojung is receiving treatment for the injuries she sustained. The other members who were also in the vehicle with the manager and stylist have no serious injuries. The members will be transferred from Suwon to a hospital in Seoul today, but the location of the wake has not yet been decided [for EunB]. Our company employees are currently in an immense state of shock and are experiencing unspeakable sadness at the moment. We offer our words of apology to the fans as well as everyone who must have received a great shock. We ask that a lot of people will pray with us for the members to recover quickly. We will deliver further details as they are known. Thank you.”
What Happened To Ladies’ Code After the Accident?
Let’s look at the things that happened after the crash.
1. RiSe and EunB Died
A few hours after the news of the accident that befell Ladies’ Code circulated, it was also announced that EunB died at the scene. According to eyewitnesses, just after the accident happened, EunB was immediately rushed to the hospital but unfortunately could not be helped. EunB’s departure made many other idols feel sad and sympathetic. After years of hard work while undergoing training, the idol’s career end after a year due to an accident. Not long after, RiSe followed EunB’s departure after four days of being treated and operated on. RiSe’s life could not be saved because of severe damage to the head which affected her brain and prevented it from getting oxygen. RiSe’s operation was handled by Lee Jong-guk who works at Aju University Hospital Trauma Center. He is a professor who is even touted as the ‘Hero of the Gulf of Aden’ for saving Captain Seok. Even so, he only had a 0.01% chance of saving RiSe. Everyone hoped for the 0.01% chance and a miracle, but unfortunately, it was not to be. Sadly, RiSe even had plans to vacation with her family in Hong Kong. RiSe and EunB were known for being closest to each other. At dinner that last night, EunB was the most active and cheerful member. That’s because EunB felt Ladies’ Code would continue to be together and be a success. She found new hope that was needed. On that night, while joking a bit, EunB said, “We did well, right? Even after this album, Ladies’ Code will continue. No one will give up and say, ‘I’m fine, thank you.’ It’s not our last night, right? Ladies’ Code fighting!” Another surprising fact is, on August 12, 2014, RiSe had a chat with fans through her Twitter account, at which point a fan asked, “Which member of Ladies’ Code would you rather leave with you and feel very comfortable with?” Quickly, RiSe replied, “EunB!” Now, EunB and RiSe’s friendship will last forever in a better place!
2. Increased Popularity
The news of EunB’s accident and death left K-pop fans of various fandoms sympathetic. Since that Wednesday morning, hashtag #RIPEunB became a trending topic on Twitter. Additionally, the name Ladies’ Code also joined the ranks of the trending topic list. On record, there were four hashtags regarding Ladies’ Code’s tragedy that became TWW. This phenomenon was remarkable. A sense of empathy from other group’s fans for them deserves a thumbs up. Previously, the name Ladies’ Code was not too popular. Not just because they were only in the K-pop world for one year, but they also did not debut from a big agency. During this time, Ladies’ Code had never topped the charts. EunB’s fanbase revealed that their idol said the one thing she wanted was for one of their songs to occupy the #1 position. A sense of sympathy encouraged netizens to struggle to raise the ranks of Ladies’ Code’s songs. Finally, EunB’s wish became reality. Not only Ladies’ Code’s fans, but fans from various groups also helped to raise the rank of the song “I’m Fine Thank You.” The song ended up occupying the top position in four different charts. Netizens revealed they wanted EunB’s wish to come true even though she was no longer alive. “I’m Fine Thank You,” was also EunB’s favorite song.
