Condolences pour in for SHINee’s Jonghyun

​Korean boyband SHINee’s main vocal, Kim Jonghyun, was found dead in a rented residential hotel in Seoul, South Korea’s Gangnam district in the early evening on Monday (December 18), sending shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry.

According to reports, Jonghyun’s elder sister received a text message from the 27-year-old that day, bidding goodbye to her.

“It’s been really hard for me all this time, so please send me off well. Tell me that I lived a good life. This is my last greeting (to you),” he wrote.

The local police only managed to locate the singer at 6.10pm, after his sister made a police report at 4.42pm.  The singer was immediately transported to the hospital, but unfortunately, he did not make it.

SM Entertainment, who manages SHINee, released a official statement later that night confirming the singer’s passing.

The entertainment company also stated that Jonghyun’s family will have a private funeral service for him on Thursday (December 21) at 9am KST (10am SGT). Fans will be able to pay their respects to the singer at a separate memorial in the same building, from Tuesday (December 19), 12pm KST (1pm SGT).

Jonghyun’s close friend, Dear Cloud’s Nine, later released the 27-year-old’s last note on Instagram, sharing that Jonghyun had specified that the letter was to be released if he ever disappeared from this world. Nine also confirmed that the letter was only released to the public after much discussion with Jonghyun’s family.

The schedules of all SM Entertainment artistes have also been cancelled for the time being, in light of the news. SHINee was scheduled to start their Japan tour in February next year.