| Singer Shin Hae-chul |
In a statement, Asan Medical Center said "Shin was admitted to the intensive care unit [ICU] in a coma Wednesday after his heart stopped beating."
The management agency said was operated on at a different hospital in Seoul on Oct. 17 for a strangulated hernia involving his stomach. He was released the next day, but then readmitted on Oct. 20 after complaining of excruciating pain.
Shin was transferred to Asan and operated on immediately, having part of his stomach removed. During the procedure his heart stopped and so he was taken to ICU.
The hospital said he was on life support, but had non-responsive pupil dilation.
The management agency dismissed speculation that he was having surgery to induce weight loss.
According to online speculation Shin appeared on a TV diet show and was advised to get surgery; and this was the reason he was in hospital.
His agency admitted the singer had undergone the same operation five years ago for dietary reasons, but said the current online statements were false, claiming Shin was the victim of a medical accident.