Singer/songwriter Kim Jonghyun
By Lubiana Mahrin
Shinee, a popular Korean-pop group, has recently lost a member. 27 year old, Kim Jonghyun passed away on December 18, 2017. After finding him unconscious inside his apartment, police ruled his death a suicide. Multiple sources state that Jonghyun had struggled with depression for a long time.
Shinee was a five member vocal group that officially debuted 10 years ago under the entertainment company SM Entertainment. Shinee quickly gained popularity throughout Asia and internationally. Popular songs include “Sherlock”, “Lucifer”, “Ring Ding Dong”, “Replay,” and more. His unexpected death has brought millions of fans together for a tribute to Shinee. Many of his colleagues in the K-pop industry mourned during his funeral, including his band members.
In the K-pop industry, idols go through years of training before they make their debut. A lot of pressure gets put upon these singers as they strive to perfect each musical performance. Many idols endure strenuous dieting and relentless hours of vocal and dance practice prior to their first release.
When someone is training to be a K-pop idol there is always the possibility that he or she may be kicked out of the group or record company at any moment. I believe that it is understandable to have trouble facing so much pressure. However, it is not okay for it to drive someone into suicidal depression.
Although Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, depression is a taboo subject in this country. Jonghyun’s death has opened more eyes to this disturbing mental health issue. For this reason many people want the entertainment industry in Korea to change, with management agencies taking better care of their Idols before and after they become famous.
Imagine the many Korean pop stars who feel the same way as Jonghyun, but don’t know how to seek help or talk about it.
When people take on the powerful public job of being an idol, it is understandable they wouldn’t openly share their emotional problems with their talent agencies. But hiding inner turmoil can be an even bigger risk.
A friend of Jonghyun has posted a letter that Jonghyun wrote before his death. The friend is from a group called Dear Cloud and she has posted this letter on her instagram, sharing it with fans of Jonghyun to ease their grief. But while many still mourn, some Choose to celebrate the release of Jonghyun’s posthumous music.
Recently, SM Entertainment released the album that the late Jonghyun completed before his demise, including two music videos. The album’s title is Poet Artist. The two music videos are for the singles “Shinin” and “Before Our Spring”. This album, in my opinion, has the typical Jonghyun-style rhythms supporting mellow but groove-heavy material. This album is well worth your attention, so I recommend listening to it yourself!
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Personal Note: Personally, when I first heard about the singer’s passing, I actually didn’t believe it. I checked Google so many times and refreshed the page to see if it was real, and sadly it was real. Like many others around the world, I’m an avid fan of Shinee, and my heart ached as I was reading the many articles written about his death.
I didn’t know why his passing affected me so much, but I later began to realize how much impact this one person had. There is a reason why more and more K-pop stars keep winning so many non-Korean fans. I couldn’t forget his unique voice, one that I listened to while getting through finals week. His poppy songs made me happy while walking to school, and when watching Shinee execute their awesome choreography during shows.
Shinee’s performances kept me in awe of the group’s charisma. Jonghyun was someone who always smiled during interviews and smiled on stage; he obviously loved his fans so much—I would have never expected someone who projected such happiness to be miserable off-camera. We never knew how much he suffered, or how lonely he actually felt.
I wish life had been different for him, and that he hadn’t left us after only a few albums and singles. Now, looking back I just want to thank him. So speaking for all those who loved his talent: “We loved you for you, Jonghyun. Rest in Peace.”
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/19/k-pop-singer-jonghyun-death-shinee-pressures-of-stardom