SHINee’s Jonghyun remembered: the legacy of a K-pop king and LGBTQ+ icon
Two years ago, the K-pop royal and lead voice of mega-boy group SHINee, died from carbon monoxide poisoning at his apartment in Seoul, after the singer’s battle with depression sadly ended with him claiming his own life. The second anniversary since the tragedy, December 18, arrives at a time when the nation is still mourning Sulli and Goo Hara – two sudden deaths which have prompted an overdue reckoning with a mental health epidemic in the Korean entertainment industry.
Despite his career being cut sadly short after less than a decade, fans will remember the impact Kim had on many realms.
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A multi-hyphenate talent
Dancer, vocalist, songwriter, author – the icon’s many talents were widely credited with contributing to SHINee’s success as one of the best live acts in K-pop.
The boy group was formed in 2008 by Korea’s largest entertainment agency, SM Entertainment, and its debut EP “Replay” landed in the top 10 of domestic charts. They became mainstays in the K-pop scene after No 1 singles like Ring Ding Dong and Lucifer that also showcase the band’s cutting-edge dance moves, generating over 100 million views on YouTube. The quintet’s later hit release “Sherlock” became one of the highest-selling albums that year in South Korea, shifting more than 180,000 copies in 2012.
As “Jonghyun”, he was prolific in his work, contributing to 12 albums with the group. As the lead vocalist, his emotive and raw delivery resonated with audiences. He also flexed his songwriting abilities in tracks including Juliet, in 2009, plus the handful of tunes he co-wrote for the “Lucifer” album in 2010, such as Up & Down.
Kim’s artistry extended to other mediums, including authoring the novel Skeleton Flower: Things That Have Been Released and Set Free, in 2015, which detailed stories behind tunes he penned for SHINee and his solo works.
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A LGBTQ+ pioneer
Kim’s advocacy for tolerance was evident in 2013 when he reached out to a bisexual and transgender college student in Korea who spotlighted discrimination based on sexuality with handwritten posters at Korea University. He messaged the student publicly on his Twitter, praising the millennial “for speaking out that being different doesn’t mean it’s wrong”.
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An empathetic star passionate about youth issues
The socially-conscience star wasn't shy about using his celebrity to highlight topical issues. Shortly after the April 2015 earthquake that struck Nepal, killing nearly 9,000 people and destroying vital infrastructure including countless homes and schools, the star rallied support on his social media, encouraging fans to donate to Unicef to help Nepalese children in affected areas.
That year on his birthday, April 8, Kim decided to pay tribute to students that died in the Sewol ferry disaster – which saw more than 300 people die when a passenger ferry sank – by remembering the victims that shared the same birthday as the icon. “Please remember these children,” he urged.
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A successful solo performer and innovator
Later in his career, Kim matured as a solo artist. But gaining more artistic control – from a major entertainment agency notorious for its tight grip on its stable of artists and their work – meant Jonghyun fought hard to pen tunes and produce his own music. The then-25-year-old needed success to validate such efforts and he got it. Jonghyun’s first EP, “Base”, released in 2015, topped the domestic charts and cemented his lyrical talent with self-penned tunes including the hit Déjà-Boo. This landmark moment paved the way for other talents in the business to achieve greater creative reign in their work.
He achieved success again with She Is in 2016, while his solemn tune Lonely, featuring Taeyeon in 2017, gained a renewed significance after the star’s death. His final project, the second solo album “Poet | Artist”, was released online posthumously in 2018.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations’ helplines, see this page.
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Two years after his death, on December 18, we pay tribute to SHINee lead singer Jonghyun – a multi-hyphenate performer, charity activist and outspoken voice for young people and minorities