Asian star's suicide 'caused by web rumours'

An Asian actress has hanged herself due to rumours about her involvement in another actor's suicide earlier this year, it has been claimed.

Choi Jin-sil, 39, known as Korea's answer to Meg Ryan, took her life after becoming agitated over web reports that she drove Ahn Jee-hwan to his death last month as he could not pay back money he owed her.

She was found in the bathroom of her home in Seoul, South Korea, hanging from a rope made out of bandages.

There was no suicide note at the scene, but Choi sent a number of text messages to her makeup assistant asking her to "take care of [my] children" no matter what.

A moment of silence was held at the opening ceremony of the Pusan International Film Festival as a mark of respect for Choi.