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| Singer Jonghyun performs during the solo concert "INSPIRED" at Olympic Park in Seoul, Dec. 9. / Courtesy of S.M. Entertainment |
By Kim Jae-heun
Singer Jonghyun of popular K-pop band SHINee was found dead Monday after he had reportedly committed suicide by poisoning himself with gas from a briquette. He was 28 years old.
The singer's life was already at stake when he was first found by police at 6:30 p.m. in a studio apartment he booked for two days in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. Jonghyun was quickly sent to Konkuk University hospital in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, but did not survive.
The singer's sister reported Jonghyun's disappearance to the police at 4:42 p.m. saying that the singer might have committed suicide. Jonghyun sent messages to his sister saying "I had a hard time," "Let me go, I had enough" and "Last farewell" _ implying his suicide
According to the Gangnam Police Station, Jonghyun had suffered from a cardiac arrest when they found the singer at 6:10 p.m. in the apartment.
His management S.M. Entertainment has not made any official announcement about the incident and refuses to answer calls.
Jonghyun debuted in the 5-member K-pop band along with singers Onew, Key, Minho and Taemin formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2008. They won many awards, including Newcomer Album of the Year at the 23rd Golden Disk Awards in August in the same year, and received the Best Dance Performance Award at the Mnet Asian Music Awards three times in a row.
Jonghyun also made a solo debut with his first mini album "Base" in 2015 and released his second EP in April.
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