Korean pop idol Kim Jonghyun dies at 27 years

December 18, 2017 1:39 PM

Kim Jonghyun (김종현) of K-Pop boyband SHINee dies at age 27. ((Talk to someone now))

The lead singer of the band SHINee (SM Entertainment), Jonghyun was a skilled lyricist and singer. He penned the lyrics for IU's "Gloomy Clock," LEE HI's "Breathe," (eng subs) the music and lyrics for "End Of A Day," (eng subs), and his latest single from the spring, "Lonely" (eng subs). Jonghyun also wrote the song "Honesty," for SHINee fans who supported them through thick and thin.

Jonghyun also has a string of upbeat tunes in his credits, such as "Deja Boo," "She Is," and he wrote the lyrics for SHINee's 2009 hit, "Juliette" and his solo song "Crazy," (2015) both performed on the Yu HuiYeol's Sketchbook stage.

Known to fans a sensitive person who cried at least once on stage or in public every year, Jonghyun is no stranger to social commentary. Among them are criticizing the government about its lack of support for comfort women, his social media support of sexual minorities, and an apology about Indian dress and sexual preference statement.

Jonghyun's response about gloominess to a fan's comment in 2015.

posted by one teak forest (35 comments total)

Corresponding threads about this news on ONTD and Omona. Reddit thread of links to many paying their respect to SHINee's Jonghyun.

Please take care, everyone.
posted by one teak forest at 1:39 PM on December 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

Kpop stars are abused like crazy by the system that produces them (forced into sex work, etc.).
posted by leotrotsky at 1:45 PM on December 18, 2017 [15 favorites]

Very sad end.
.
posted by Bee'sWing at 1:46 PM on December 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

.
posted by oceanjesse at 3:54 PM on December 18, 2017

I've never heard of the guy, but he sounds like a really great guy. So sad.
.
posted by brundlefly at 4:19 PM on December 18, 2017 [6 favorites]

Such a huge loss for SHINee, Jonghyun really anchored their vocals.

SHINee's last Korean single - "Tell Me What To Do".
posted by needled at 5:06 PM on December 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

.
posted by 4ster at 5:10 PM on December 18, 2017

My 16-year-old daughter is currently way into K-Pop, and she was devastated to hear the news this morning. She texted me and my wife from school at lunchtime to tell us how sad she was feeling, which she's never done before. We've been talking to her about it all day and encouraging her to stay away from the social media sites where the fans have been going overboard with the grieving all day.
posted by briank at 5:11 PM on December 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

.
posted by biggreenplant at 5:12 PM on December 18, 2017

.

so sad. the entertainment industry eats its children and spits out their bones :(
posted by supermedusa at 5:30 PM on December 18, 2017

.
posted by limeonaire at 5:33 PM on December 18, 2017

.
posted by Panthalassa at 5:55 PM on December 18, 2017

Kpop stars are abused like crazy by the system that produces them (forced into sex work, etc.).

I think that's for a different thread, really.
posted by Panthalassa at 5:56 PM on December 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

I think that's for a different thread, really.
I didn’t post something I believed was unrelated.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:01 PM on December 18, 2017 [11 favorites]

Anime fans make up a huge chunk of my current internet social group and Tumblr dashboard. The large intersection between that group and Kpop fans meant that I suddenly was seeing his face everywhere today, and I had no idea who he was, and it still was kind of overwhelming. I hope that everybody having a hard time with this news has someone to talk to and, if desirable, get a hug from.
posted by Sequence at 6:03 PM on December 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

Oh no this is such sad news. I listen to kpop every so often, but SHINee is the only band I know by name and music. What a loss to the band, fans, and Jonghyun's family & friends. Mostly though, I'm sad for Jonghyun himself.

.
posted by A hidden well at 6:44 PM on December 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

If you're not already familiar with SHINee, do yourself a favour and checkout their song "Sherlock"
posted by A hidden well at 6:46 PM on December 18, 2017 [5 favorites]

So the "27 Club" (celebrities, particularly rock/pop music stars, who died at the age of 27 - a designation starting at the end of the '60s with Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison, solidified decades later by Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, but actually begun by blues legend Robert Johnson in 1938) has now truly gone international.
posted by oneswellfoop at 6:51 PM on December 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

Every time I see "died suddenly" and someone so young my heart prepares itself to break. It feels like it's always breaking. I hope he finds peace.

.
posted by colorblock sock at 7:12 PM on December 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

If you read through the post on omona, there is a translation Jong Hyun's final letter to family and friends. It's on the 22nd page of comments, I don't want to link it here. Really deeply sad, it reminds me so much of a close family member who went the same way.

We used to say that with the stress of being a Kpop star, the lack of support, and the mental health issues of so many artists, it was only a matter of time before we saw a really high-profile death... but still SO sad to read this news about Jong Hyun today, he was truly one of the very best. I don't think there's even a single negative thing to say about him? One of those people who lived trying to do right by others and who was widely respected, not just by fans of idol music, but by the general Korean public too, who saw him as an artist. Someone who went out of his way to add to the sum total of good in the world. RIP.
posted by subdee at 7:40 PM on December 18, 2017 [6 favorites]

.

He was legitimately the best person in kpop, and maybe even pop. He had it all.
posted by Xere at 7:46 PM on December 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

For anyone else who comes across this post, here is a few words from Jonghyun during his stint as host of Blue Night Radio:

“Is there anyone out there that is crying alone tonight? Not crying out of pity for something or someone, but instead because they cannot help asking why they are living in the way that they are? Is there anyone that is feeling sentimental or guilty, needlessly? Don’t be like that. I hope that you believe that these bitter days of crying alone will prove to be the most beautiful days of your life. You’ll realize, with time, that your life is actually pretty alright. I promise you. In fact, I’ll write you a guarantee! The most beautiful thing in all the world is right now. This moment. You. Don’t ever forget that.” - Kim Jonghyun.

To follow user A hidden well's suggestion, I'd also like to recommend that you watch them perform live: Sherlock Remix at KBS Song Festival 2012.12.28 performance! The back track is very loud and though most of the members manage most of the time to sing over it, Jonghyun is the most consistent one. If you're wondering which one is Jonghyun, he's the one wearing the white-blue blazer and black pants, singing the first few opening lines of the song (not the person whispering "SHINEE'S BACK," that's Minho) and also the scatting at 4:00. Also, because user needled linked to it, I found this Tell Me What To Do MBC Radio 20161121 performance very, very good. Jonghyun is wearing all black, on the side of the room that has three of the members.

I hope people check out Jonghyun's music and his words. He had an especially deep and introspective interview with Esquire back in April which is even more painful to read today.
posted by one teak forest at 8:02 PM on December 18, 2017 [4 favorites]

.

I'm in my forties and this is the first celebrity death that really hurt. Not only was he a pretty powerful vocalist and a total pro on stage, but his willingness to speak openly and eloquently about societal issues and his kindness to LGBT Koreans were moving and impressive. He always seemed willing to listen to fans and learn from his mistakes.

On top of all of that, he could be a pretty funny and witty guy. My favorite non-music memories of him are:

* His exasperated catchphrase "Is this the reality you wanted?" from SHINee's appearance on "Hello Baby" (where idols are tasked with taking care of toddlers)
* His challenge to fans to photoshop groupmate Minho in unflattering poses (a few picture links are broken, boo)
* Minho's revenge
posted by Recliner of Rage at 8:22 PM on December 18, 2017 [4 favorites]

.
posted by tychotesla at 9:04 PM on December 18, 2017

Even though I've never considered myself a Shawol, I was shocked and saddened to hear the news this morning. It's easy to say "he's such a beautiful soul" but Jonghyun was definitely not just a wonderful artist, but a wonderful person. Shinee has been one of the few remaining second gen groups that you thought could go forever, and now it's crushing to not only realize what could have led him to make this decision, but also how it will affect his groupmates who have been a part of his life for so long and who have their identity wrapped up in who they are to each other.

I'm super plugged-in to the kpop community, and everyone is pretty much devastated right now. The worst is worrying about the fans who already struggle with depression but who have found a happy place in the shiny world of kpop. It's been a triggering event for some, so I hope everyone is focusing on self-care.
posted by paisley sheep at 9:59 PM on December 18, 2017 [4 favorites]

Jjong, you will be greatly missed for all of the reasons so eloquently stated above and many, many more. Sorry we left you lonely.
.
posted by dual_action at 9:59 PM on December 18, 2017 [2 favorites]

.

what a loss! The guy was super talented.
posted by james33 at 4:45 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]

Wow, I didn't realize there were so many other Kpop fans on Metafilter. I'm sad this is how I found that out.

Goodbye Jong Hyun. I hope you're at peace now.

.
posted by sharp pointy objects at 7:27 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]

.

Shinee was one of my introductions to Kpop with their "Replay" MV. Though I don't really listen to Kpop much anymore, I still own a number of their songs and was deeply upset by the news yesterday. Jonghyun had a unique voice and seemed like a legitimately good person - it is terrible that he is gone.
posted by Julnyes at 9:04 AM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]

.
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 4:14 PM on December 19, 2017

> If you're not already familiar with SHINee, do yourself a favour and checkout their song "Sherlock"

"Sherlock" featured some of my favorite SHINee choreography, along with "Everybody".

I just can't imagine SHINee without Jonghyun, especially on a track like "Dynamite" (written by Hitchhiker of "11" fame).
posted by needled at 6:15 PM on December 19, 2017 [2 favorites]

I didn’t post something I believed was unrelated.

Perhaps it's just my sensibilities being offended, and although I don't want to downplay the abuse that goes on within the K-pop industry at all, it just seems kinda off to come into a thread about a recently deceased person and seemingly speculate that he was abused in the absence of any positive evidence.

If I have misinterpreted your original post, my apologies.
posted by Panthalassa at 9:17 PM on December 19, 2017 [1 favorite]

In reply of-sorts to those connecting his death to the Korean entertainment industry in general:

2. [+1,477, -48] But is this even applicable to Jonghyun-ssi? The article is written as if it's the competitiveness of the industry to fault even though they point out themselves that there's really no specific reason for his death. It'd make sense if this article was about the suicide of an idol who was never popular but Jonghyun-ssi is a singer who was at the top of his career. I really dislike how the foreign media is connecting Korea's competitive society with his suicide.
posted by one teak forest at 2:28 AM on December 22, 2017 [1 favorite]

.
posted by sunusku at 1:53 PM on December 22, 2017

I'm going to miss him so much. No more Christmas calendars with SHINee as five...
posted by yueliang at 2:58 PM on December 25, 2017 [2 favorites]