The singer of K-pop band SHINee, Jonghyun, was found unconscious in a Seoul hotel on Monday and was rushed to the hospital and later pronounced dead. He was 27.
Jonghyun, whose real name was Kim Jong-hyun, had sent his sister ominous text messages prior to his death, according to Seoul police. One read “Final farewell” while another said, “I’ve had a hard time. Please let me go and say that I did a good job. This is my last word.”
Upon receiving the text messages, his sister immediately called police.
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As of this writing, police have not yet determined with certainty if he committed suicide. Yonhap news agency said authorities found burned coal briquettes, which produce carbon monoxide, in a frying pan in Kim’s hotel room.
Fans in South Korea and around the world mourned the loss of the singer.
SM Entertainment, Kim’s management company throughout his career, released a statement Monday following his death.
“Our sadness cannot compare to the pain of his family, who had to say goodbye to a son and a brother, but we have spent a long time with him, and the SHINee members along with the SM Entertainment staff are all in deep mourning and shock,” it read in part.
“Jonghyun loved music more than anybody else and he was an artist who did everything to perform his absolute best on stage. It breaks our heart to have to bring this news to fans who loved Jonghyun so much. Please refrain from reporting on rumours and guesswork so the family of the deceased can honour him in peace. As per the wish of the family, the funeral will be held quietly with his relatives and company colleagues. Once again we show our deepest condolences to Jonghyun on his last journey.”
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Kim debuted in 2008 as the main singer of SHINee and cultivated a career as both a group member and a solo singer-songwriter. His last public appearance was at a solo concert, Inspired, on Dec. 9-10 in Seoul, and he was scheduled to hold concerts with SHINee members in Tokyo and Osaka in February, Yonhap said.
South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates among developed countries. A string of high-profile figures, including a former president and business executives, have killed themselves in recent years.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the Canadian suicide hotline, available 24/7, at 1-800-668-6868. For more information on suicide and to find help nearest you, visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention.
— With files from The Associated Press