Jonghyun

For the person of the same name in NU'EST, see JR.

Jonghyun (종현) was a South Korean singer-songwriter and composer under SM Entertainment. He was a member of the boy group SHINee and the project ballad group S.M. THE BALLAD.

He made his solo debut on January 12, 2015 with his first mini-album Base while his final album Poet | Artist was released posthumously on January 23, 2018.

Career

Pre-debut

In 2005, Jonghyun was scouted by SM Entertainment after he performed in a song festival with his high school band, called ZION.^[1] He later dropped out of high school in the tenth grade, transferring to Seoul Music Institute.^[2]

2008: Debut with SHINee

He debuted as a member of SHINee on May 22, 2008 with the group's first mini album Replay.

2015: Solo debut with Base

On January 1, a mysterious video teaser of a triangle that expands into a square was released on the SMTOWN website.^[3] It was then confirmed that Jonghyun will make his solo debut with the mini album Base on January 12 with teaser photos and a teaser video being released on January 2.^[4] On January 3, it was announced that SMTOWN would be revealing a line up of artists that participated in the album, with Younha being revealed on the same day.^[5] The next day, it was revealed that the singer-songwriter Wheesung participated in the lyric making of the album.^[6] The title track of the mini album was announced to be "Crazy (Guilty Pleasure)", which features the rapper Iron, on January 5 through a teaser video.^[7] The song was described to be a medium tempo retro pop song influenced by neo soul and funk genres.^[7] On January 6, it was announced that Jonghyun would be pre-releasing the song "Déjà-Boo", featuring Zion.T, on January 7.^[8] The track list for the mini album was revealed the next day and featured a total of 7 songs, including the bonus track, along with the symbols "+???" indicating an additional song.^[9] On the same day, the song "Déjà-Boo" was pre-released and took charge of the top spot on real time charts.^[10] A highlight medley for the mini album was released on January 8 with the music video for "Crazy (Guilty Pleasure)" dropping the next day.^[11][12] A performance video for "Déjà-Boo" was released on January 10, two days after his showcase stage.^[13] The mini album was officially released on January 12 and swept number one on different music charts.^[14] On January 14, a dance practice video for the song "Hallelujah" was released.^[15]

Personal life

2013 car accident

On April 1, 2013, Jonghyun was involved in a car accident that left him with a broken nose.^[16] Thus, he was absent from SHINee's live promotions and music video for the album Why So Serious? - The Misconceptions of Me.^[17]

Relationship

On October 26, 2010, SM Entertainment and Namoo Actors confirmed that Jonghyun and actress Shin Se Kyung were dating after being spotted on a date nearby the actress' home.^[18] On June 20, 2011, it was announced the couple had broken up due to busy schedules.^[19]

Death

On December 18, 2017, Jonghyun was found unconscious in his rented apartment in Gangnam District, Seoul by police and rescue workers. Earlier that day, his older sister Sodam had contacted emergency responders, reported she believed he intended to commit suicide. He was brought to Konkuk University Hospital in a state of cardiac arrest. Despite emergency CPR treatment being performed, Jonghyun was pronounced dead at the hospital at around 6:23 PM.^[20] At the request of Jonghyun's family, a post-mortem was not carried out and his death was declared a possible suicide.^[21]

Discography

Studio albums

• She is (2016)
• Poet | Artist (2018)

Special albums

• The Collection Story Op.1 (2015)
• The Collection Story Op.2 (2017)

Mini albums

• Base (2015)

Digital singles

• "Monthly Live Connection Track 1" (2015)
• "Monthly Live Connection Track 2" (2015)
• "Monthly Live Connection Track 3" (2015)
• "Inspiration" (2016)

Collaboration singles

• "Your Voice" (with Heritage) (2016)

OSTs

• "City Hunter OST Part.2" ("So Goodbye") (2011)
• "The King's Dream OST Part.3" ("1 Out of 100") (2013)
• "Mimi OST" ("Breath" with Taeyeon of Girls' Generation) (2014)
• "Birth of a Beauty OST Part.1" ("She") (2014)
• "Who Are You: School 2015 OST Part 6" ("Named" with Taemin) (2015)
• "Oh My Venus OST Part.1" ("Only The Words I Love You") (2015)

Other releases

• "Two Yoo Project - Sugar Man Part.5" ("Only the Words I Love You") (2015)

Concerts

• JONGHYUN – X – INSPIRATION (2016)
• INSPIRED (2017)

Trivia

• His song "Moon" from his first studio album She is will be sent to the moon in 2020 through the Project Mora, a "moon museum" by storing the information inside a capsule.^[22]
• In 2020, Instagram made updates to its application and brought the function of memorializing accounts of those who passed away, so the account become a place full of good memories from the time when they were alive, and so that the account do not get deleted due to inactivity. Jonghyun's account was one of those memorialized.^[23]

Producing and writing credits

Gallery

Main article: Jonghyun/Gallery

References

Official links

• Website
• Instagram
• Twitter

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