Biography of Jonghyun
The late Kim Jong-hyun, also known by his stage name Jonghyun, was a South Korean idol singer, dancer, musician, lyricist, promotional model, radio host, and author under the agency ‘SM Entertainment’. He was a highly acclaimed and talented musician who served as the main vocalist of the K-pop group ‘Shinee’ and established a successful solo career.
Beginning in January 2015 with the release of his debut EP album, ‘Base,’ Jonghyun also performed as a solo artist. It reached number one on the ‘Billboard World Albums Chart’ and the ‘Gaon Album Chart’.
He remained a prominent figure in the music industry, performing as ‘Shinee’s main vocalist and solo artist until his untimely death on December 18, 2017, resulting from suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. In memory of his contributions to the music industry, his final album, entitled ‘Poet | Artist,’ was released posthumously on January 23, 2018.
Early Life and Education
Jonghyun was born on April 8, 1990, in Seoul, South Korea in the Gwangjin District. He had a passion for music from a young age and dropped out of high school in 10th grade to pursue a career in music. He was encouraged by his mother and sister to continue his education, so he attended Chungwoon University and later transferred to Myongji University where he earned a degree in Film Studies. He formed a band, ‘Zion’, in his teenage years, which gained national attention and led to him being signed by the talent agency ‘S.M. Entertainment’ at the age of 15.
Career & Achievements
The boy band ‘Shinee’ was seeking an additional member and in May 2005, they announced that Jonghyun had been chosen to join the group. He made his debut as a member of the K-pop group, ‘Shinee’ on the TV show ‘Inkigayo’ in 2008, and in 2009, took on roles as a songwriter and performer for the band. With the release of the EP ‘Romeo’, for which he wrote the lyrics, focused on love, which resonated with the public and soon became a huge success. In various interviews, Kim shared that his inspiration for the songs came from William Shakespeare’s classic play ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Jonghyun’s vocals stood out during the performance of ‘Let’s Go’ at the ‘2010 G-20 Seoul Summit’ where he collaborated with other popular South Korean singers. In the same year, he also participated in ‘SM the Ballad’, a project group formed by ‘SM Entertainment’ with a focus on ballads and R&B. The group then released their debut EP, ‘Miss You’.
In 2011, the program ‘Immortal Songs 2’ was broadcast by KBS and featured cover versions of classic South Korean songs performed by new-age musicians. Jonghyun was a major participant, but he left the show after the first episode, which resulted in criticism.
In 2013, Jonghyun made his debut as a composer with the track ‘A Gloomy Clock’. The song was included on IU’s third studio album, ‘Modern Times’, and was co-written by Jonghyun and was considered a duet. Two months later, Jonghyun’s composition ‘Red Candle’ was released by artist Son Dam-bi.
In 2014, after a four-year break, ‘SM the Ballad’ released their second EP ‘Breath’ with a new line-up. In this Jonghyun performed the title track ‘Breath’ in collaboration with ‘Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon. In July of the same year, Jonghyun began hosting the MBC radio program ‘Blue Night’ due to his passion for music and dedication to music-related activities. In August 2014, Jonghyun wrote the lyrics for the song ‘Pretty Boy’ for fellow ‘Shinee’ member Taemin’s first EP, ‘Ace’.
Kim released his first solo EP, ‘Base’, in January 2015, with him as the main producer and several other composers involved. The album was a big hit, reaching the top of the ‘Billboard World Album Chart’ and the ‘Gaon Album Chart’. Additionally, it was announced that Kim would be appearing on the variety show ‘4 Things Show’ in the same month.
While participating in TV shows, Kim maintained his focus on music and continued working on his own albums and collaborating with others. In August 2015, he went on a solo tour called ‘The Story by Jonghyun’ as part of the ‘S.M. Entertainment’ concert series. He performed songs from his debut EP and previewed new music from an upcoming album by being a major part of some of its songs.
His first official solo album, ‘She Is,’ was released in May 2016 and received immediate acclaim. The album features 9 tracks, mostly composed by him, and its diverse range of songs was well-received by listeners.
He became an author in 2017 and published a book called ‘Skeleton Flower: Things That Have Been Released and Set Free’, which was partially based on his own life and discussed his motivations for creating music and writing songs. In Oct 2017, he was ranked among the top 5 K-pop vocalists in a survey.
Jonghyun released his second album ‘Story Op.2’ in April 2017 and embarked on a nationwide concert tour with 20 shows. In December 2017, he began working on his next album slated for a January 2018 release while also embarking on a tour. The album was released posthumously and made its way onto the ‘Billboard 200’ charts, making Kim the first K-pop artist to achieve this feat.
Albums
Studio Album:
Mini Album:
Compilation Albums
Singles
Digital Singles
OSTs
Music Videos
Death
Throughout his K-pop career, mental health struggles plagued Kim Jong-hyun. Beginning from a troubled childhood and continuing on, he experienced various issues. Though, he rarely spoke about it. However, his inner turmoil was hinted at in some interviews. On December 18, 2017, Kim rented an apartment in the Gangnam district and took his own life by inhaling toxic fumes. His sister called the authorities after receiving concerning text messages, and he was found dead that evening.
In his suicide note, Kim revealed his struggles with loneliness and depression, particularly as a public figure. This tragedy sparked a nationwide conversation about mental health issues among the young, as his note conveyed the unbearable weight of his depression and loneliness exacerbated by his fame.
Interesting Facts about Jonghyun
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Jonghyun has always been a strong supporter of LGBT rights.
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He fractured his nose in a car accident that occurred in 2013. His absence from the majority of ‘Shinee’s’ promotional activities for their third full-length album was caused by this.
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He was a victim of depression.
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He used to play the guitar, bass and piano well.
FAQs
- Why did Jonghyun commit suicide?
He was a victim of depression. In his suicide note, Kim revealed his struggles with loneliness and depression, particularly as a public figure. - How old was Jonghyun when he committed suicide?
He was only 27 years old. - What is the Instagram ID of Jonghyun?
jonghyun.948 is the Instagram ID of Jonghyun.
