Who is Goo Hara and what is K-Pop?

Condolences are pouring in after reports emerged that K-pop star Goo Hara has died.

Goo, a former member of South Korean girl group Kara, was discovered at her home in Seoul early Sunday evening, officers said.

Although police have not given the cause of death, fans are wondering whether it has anything to do with her ex-boyfriend .

Last year, the singer became involved in public disputes with an ex-boyfriend who claimed to be assaulted by her.

She had accused the man of having threatened to circulate an explicit video of her.

In May, Hara was found unconscious after a suspected suicide attempt.

The police said the exact cause of her death was still under investigation.

South Korea has one of the world´s highest rates of suicide which, according to recent government figures, is among the top causes of death for those under 40.

The 28-year-old´s death comes a month after Sulli -- another K-pop star and Goo´s close friend -- took her own life after a long struggle with online bullying.

The singer had posted a tearful message on her Instagram shortly after Sulli´s death, grieving the passing of her friend.

In messages posted on social media, fans mourned Goo´s death, with one writing: "I hope you have a good sleep in heaven without any worries."

After performing in Kara from 2008 to 2015, she focused on her solo career after the group broke up and had just completed a tour of Japan with her latest release.

K-pop

K-pop is a genre of popular music originating in South Korea. While the modern form of K-pop can be traced back to the early 90s, the term itself has been popularized since the 2000s, replacing the term Gayo, which also refers to domestic pop music in South Korea.