46-year-old YouTuber The Great Library (real name Na Dong-hyun), who died suddenly on Sept. 6, passed from a brain hemorrhage. His ex-wife, fellow creator Yum-Cast (real name Lee Chaewon), who served as chief mourner, addressed speculation and urged fans to avoid rumors, saying she hopes “no more pain is caused.”
In a YouTube Community post early Sept. 10, Yum-Cast wrote, “To fans who were shocked and heartbroken by the sudden news, I offer my deepest condolences. Though The Great Library is no longer with us, the laughter and warmth he left behind will be remembered for a long time.” She added, “Our family drew great strength from everyone who visited in person and from those who sent their thoughts from afar.”
Setting the record straight about his death, she stated: “The precise cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. To remove any doubt, we proceeded with an autopsy, and the final finding also confirmed a brain hemorrhage. He had recently mentioned his blood pressure was a bit high and that he should start medication, but he didn’t have persistent headaches, and routine checkups hadn’t flagged major issues―there was no way to detect an aneurysm in advance.”
Yum-Cast also addressed rumors about their relationship and finances: “It was his first marriage; I was on my second and had one son. I bought our newlywed home, and we split living expenses 50-50. There was no division of assets when we divorced. My son was never legally adopted by The Great Library and has no connection to any inheritance. I have not received child support since the divorce. My name appeared as chief mourner at his younger sister’s request. The claim that I did it for money is deeply hurtful. We shared years together―seeing him off on his final journey was the least I could do.”
She thanked fans who came during the funeral. “He used to say he’d make sure to serve hearty yukgaejang at his funeral, and fans actually prepared it, so we shared both tears and smiles. We placed books and letters with him,” she wrote. “He has been laid to rest at Mita Hall at Yaksa Temple in Incheon. Fans who wish to pay their respects are welcome. He loved all things flashy, so we chose a sparkly urn.”
She concluded, “The goodbye was sudden, but he left after spending happy days surrounded by family, friends, and fans. Please don’t worry too much―hold on to the good memories for a long time.”
According to Seoul’s Gwangjin Police Station, a preliminary autopsy by the National Forensic Service on Sept. 8 found “no signs of criminal activity.” Police plan to close the case after the final report.
A pioneer of Korea’s first wave of online broadcasting, The Great Library started on AfreecaTV before expanding to YouTube, where he amassed 1.44 million subscribers. He also appeared on TV shows, becoming a familiar face to the public.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)