Kim Gun-woo Is Alive: False Death Post Sparks Confusion Online

Someone appears to have played a deeply disturbing and cruel “joke” involving former South Korean short track speed skater Kim Gun-woo (김건우).

On September 23, 2026, a death announcement suddenly appeared on Kim Gun-woo’s Instagram account, claiming that the 28-year-old former athlete had passed away that day.

Because the message appeared on his own social media account and was written in the style of an official obituary, the news quickly spread across social media and was subsequently reported by several media outlets.

Fans began sharing condolences, and within hours, searches for Kim Gun-woo were filled with reports announcing his death.

There was just one major problem:

Kim Gun-woo was alive.

Kim Gun-woo Personally Denies the Death Reports

Later that day, Kim Gun-woo addressed the situation himself and apologized for the shock and confusion caused by the announcement.

In his statement, Kim explained that when the problematic post appeared, he was unable to access his Instagram account normally and was not initially aware that the announcement had been published.

He later learned about it through people around him.

Most importantly, Kim made it clear that he did not write or publish the death announcement himself and that it had appeared on his account regardless of his wishes.

He said he was investigating why he had been unable to access the account and how the post had been uploaded.

At the time of his statement, the exact circumstances had therefore not yet been established.

How Did the False Report Spread So Quickly?

The unusual circumstances help explain why the story spread so rapidly.

This wasn't simply an anonymous social media rumor. The death announcement appeared on an account associated with Kim Gun-woo himself and included a specific date of death — September 23, 2026.

As a result, numerous people understandably believed that the announcement was genuine.

Reports of his death then began appearing online, creating even more confusion when people searched his name on Google and social media.

Even after Kim denied the reports, earlier headlines announcing his death continued to circulate.

What Did Kim Gun-woo Say?

In his statement, Kim apologized to everyone who had been shocked or worried by what happened.

He explained that the controversial post was neither written nor uploaded by him and had been posted without his involvement.

He also asked people to avoid spreading unconfirmed information or speculation while the circumstances surrounding his Instagram account were being investigated.

Rather than making assumptions about who was responsible, Kim indicated that he wanted to establish the facts first.

Who Is Kim Gun-woo?

Kim Gun-woo, born in 1998, is a former South Korean short track speed skater who represented his country internationally.

He achieved notable success during his competitive career, including finishing first in the overall 1500m World Cup standings during the 2018–2019 season.

During the 2023–2024 season, he also won three consecutive individual World Cup gold medals.

Kim announced his retirement from competitive short track speed skating in June 2026.

Kim Gun-woo Is Alive

Despite the alarming posts and headlines circulating online on September 23, Kim Gun-woo is alive.

The former athlete himself denied the reports and stated that he was not responsible for the death announcement that appeared on his Instagram account.

Who uploaded it and exactly what happened to his account remain questions that should not be answered through speculation until more information is available.

What is already clear, however, is how quickly a single false post can turn into international news — especially when it appears to come directly from the person involved.

And when the subject is someone's death, a “joke” like this is anything but funny.