The lead singer of the popular K-Pop group SHINee, known primarily by his stage name of Jonghyun, was found unconscious Monday and later died, BBC News reported.
Reports have varied on his age, but he was thought to be either 27 or 28. Police said suicide will be investigated as a potential cause of death, according to BBC News. According to South Korea's Yonhap news service, Jonghyun—whose birth name was Kim Jong-hyun—was found in a rented apartment in Seoul on Monday night, local time, after his sister called emergency responders, claiming she thought her brother may be harming himself.
"On 18 December, 2017 at 4:42 p.m., Jong-hyun's older sister reported to police that her brother was about to take his own life," a police statement said, according to The Independent. He was located not long after in the Gangnam district of Seoul.
The Korean Herald reported the singer had sent texts saying his final goodbyes and that a medical team attempted to revive him at a hospital with CPR but was unsuccessful. Citing police, Variety reported the text read, "I've had a hard time. Please let me go and say that I did a good job. This is my last word."
SHINee are a popular K-Pop group with five members that released 11 albums since 2008. Jonghyun also had set forth on a successful solo career. According to Variety, the group recently played 25 concerts in 10 cities behind their latest album for Japanese fans, bringing in some 320,000 fans to watch the shows. SHINee played their first North American shows earlier this year.
Through their fantastic singing and dancing, SHINee earned the nickname "The Princes of K-Pop," the flashy, stylish pop music made popular in South Korea. Asked by CNN earlier this year how the band stays relevant, Jonghyun responded, "I think it's because we are able to create art that is centered around what we enjoy and like."
Remembrances flooded social media Monday for the popular singer, who was known for taking public stances for causes such as supporting LGBT rights or improving education.
jonghyun, you truly are an inspiration, you bring all this fandom to unite as one, you did well❤️ pic.twitter.com/OqcLiDx8gk
— exo’s (@ohsehuntralala) December 18, 2017
its heartbreaking to wake up to this news but please realize behind that smile & laughter your idols show you there could be a deeper/darker side that you could never have imagined. sending all my love & prayers to the members of shinee & all the friends & family of jonghyun :(
— deepali (@jhopesgalaxy) December 18, 2017
regardless of what fandom you're in, today the kpop community mourns together. I don't even know what to say, just that I'm sorry we lost you Jonghyun. I am a sone but damn this hurts like hell. RIP Jonghyun we will miss you dearly.
— foreversoshi (@foreversoshi) December 18, 2017
