Remembering SHINee’s Kim Jong Hyun: Our Favourite Moments And Highlights

December 18 was supposed to be a happy day – Big Bang star Taeyang had just announced his marriage to actress Min Hyo Rin. As the day drew to a close, the upcoming nuptials was overshadowed by the news that Kim Jong Hyun, the lead vocalist from SHINee, had committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s never easy when an idol passes away, and it’s even worse when we find out that it was due to suicide. These stars helped so many of us get through our own hardships with their songs, but it’s unfortunate that we can’t return the favour.

Kim Jong Hyun was always the bright and optimistic one in SHINee and the number one supporter for the rest of his band members and fellow artists, both in S.M. and outside. The singer had a pretty successful career as the main vocalist of one of the biggest second generation Kpop groups that really defined the Hallyu wave back in the 2008-2010 era. Fast forward nearly 10 years later, SHINee still hasn’t faded into oblivion and Jong Hyun’s released two solo albums, with concerts planned for the next half a year. In fact, we just saw him barely a month ago when he was here in Singapore. He had his shit together, but what made him decide to end it all?

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Image from SHINee’s Instagram

Earlier this year, the English music world lost Chester Bennington as he succumbed to his inner demons. Little did we know that the Kpop world would see the loss of a star of equal fame due to the same demons. It’s not a secret that Jong Hyun was battling depression as early as 2013. He’s talked about it frequently on his radio show, and also wrote songs to help fellow musicians like IU and Lee Hi out of their own moods. Jong Hyun’s death once again casts the spotlight on those who have been under its glare for a long time –  being famous is not necessarily as glorious as we think it is. Even top star Kwon Ji Yong, also known as G-Dragon, has shared that he was lonely even though he seems like he is living the life, sitting in front rows of fashion shows and jetting all over the world for concerts.

Jong Hyun, or affectionately called Jjong by Shawols, was only 27 when he passed on. Jjong is now remembered as part of the 27 Club, which is a club you don’t really want to be a part of because the other members include other high profile celebrities who passed away at 27 due to alcohol and drug abuse or suicide like Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, and Jim Morrison. It’s hard to tell if it was the fame that ultimately got to him, or that because he was struggling that he could write such relatable songs.

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Jong Hyun’s pallbearers include fellow band members Taemin, Key, and Onew and Super Junior members Lee Teuk, Eun Hyuk, and Lee Dong Hae on 21 December

As we write this, Jong Hyun’s funeral procession is now over in Korea as his closest friends and family sends him off in a tearful farewell, but we still aren’t ready to continue on with our life. Jong Hyun is not just another member from a manufactured Kpop boyband, but he’s also a prolific writer and record producer (not as common in the Kpop world as you would like to believe), and also has his own radio show.

Here’s how we’ll remember the talented songwriter and singer who managed to cheer everyone else with his bling bling happiness, but failed to find his own happiness.

the story by jjong

A little throwback to Jong Hyun’s first concert

The SHINee song that started everything – Replay

We can’t ever forget the crazy hair days and hairbands during the ‘Lucifer’ era

When Jong Hyun wrote a song for Lee Hi to comfort her

The goofy star that never fails to cheer us up during a concert

His second and last ever concert

 The shining star that cries at every concert

Jjong’s never-ending struggle with his height issues

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His dorkiest moment ever – We’re just going to leave you with this last video, because a laughing, smiling Jjong is how we want to remember him by.