No autopsy for SHINee's Jonghyun

By Jung Min-ho

Police will not perform autopsy on Kim Jong-hyun, a member of K-pop idol group SHINee who died Monday in an apparent suicide.

“His family members do not want one,” an official at Gangnam Police Station explained, Tuesday.

Police will talk to his family and friends to straighten out some facts before closing their investigation.

Kim, better known by his stage name Jonghyun, was found dead at his apartment in Seoul at around 6:10 p.m. About an hour prior, police received a call from his sister, who said she had received an alarming note from him two days before via a chatting app.

When police and rescue workers responded, Kim had already stopped breathing. They took him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 27.

His family and friends told police he had shown symptoms of depression for a long time. Police said there were no signs of murder.

A private funeral will be held Thursday morning. Fans will be able to pay respects at the funeral hall of Asan Medical Center in southern Seoul.

Meanwhile, the Korea Suicide Prevention Center (KSPC) advised journalists not to describe his suicide methods too specifically, expressing concern for the wellbeing of his fans.

“When reporting such cases, please include the message that suicide cannot be a means of escape,” the KSPC recommended in a release.

The center also mentioned most people who commit suicide exhibit warning signs in advance. If a loved one displays any such warning signs, such as talking about wanting to die, withdrawing from social life or drastic changes in sleeping patterns, the center advises seeking professional help, adding many treatment options are available.