'As One' Duo Member Lee Min Found Dead at 46: What We Know So Far

Lee Min, one half of the beloved Korean R&B duo As One, was found dead at her Seoul home on Tuesday evening.

The 46-year-old singer, whose real name was Lee Min-young, was discovered by her husband when he returned home. Her agency, Brand New Music, confirmed the tragic news on Wednesday, stating that police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Born in 1978, Lee Min was a Korean-American singer who immigrated to the United States when she was three months old and grew up there before returning to Korea to pursue her music career. She debuted in November 1999 alongside her partner Crystal as the duo As One with their first album Day by Day. The duo quickly gained popularity with hits including "Only You Wouldn't Know," their debut single, as well as "Day by Day," "Want and Resent," and "You're Welcome."

As One became known for its sophisticated R&B sound and Lee Min's distinctive vocal style, which was described as both delicate and powerful. The duo released six studio albums over their career, with their most recent full-length being Outlast in 2016. After announcing a hiatus in 2017, the pair recently reunited for new music.

Lee Min had remained active in the music industry until her death. In June, As One released the single "Happy Birthday to You," and she appeared on KBS 2TV's music talk show "The Seasons: Park Bo-gum's Cantabile" in May. Industry colleagues who worked with her recently described her as being enthusiastic about her comeback activities and noted she seemed to be enjoying her return to music.

Crystal, who currently resides in the United States, is reportedly flying back to Korea to attend funeral arrangements after learning of her longtime partner's death. The music industry has expressed shock over the sudden loss, with numerous artists and composers paying tribute to Lee Min's talent and kind personality.

Lee Min married a non-celebrity Korean man two years her senior in Hawaii in 2013. According to Brand New Music, the funeral will be held privately according to the family's wishes. The wake has been set up at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital in Seongnam, with the funeral scheduled for Friday morning.

The agency has temporarily suspended its social media operations and postponed scheduled music releases to mourn Lee Min's passing. Police continue to investigate the exact cause of death, with no additional details released at this time.