generasia:Featured article for 2017 week 51
Jong Hyun
Jong Hyun (종현) was a Korean pop singer-songwriter, radio host, and author. He was a main vocalist of the group SHINee. He debuted as a solo artist on January 12, 2015, with his first mini-album BASE. That same year, on September 17, he released a compilation album, Iyagi Op.1. On May 24, 2016, Jong Hyun released his first studio album, Joha (She Is), followed by his second compilation album, Iyagi Op.2 on April 24, 2017.
Jong Hyun is known to be the first artist of SM Entertainment to have participated heavily in writing, organizing, and composing an album, despite the company's repertoire for limiting its artists' control over the production of their albums. Kim Da Hee of the The Korea Times named Jong Hyun as one of four K-pop musicians who have distinguished themselves from the mass-produced singers in the idol industry, the other three being G-Dragon, ZICO and Jinyoung, by their "exceptional talent in songwriting, producing and dancing, plus other abilities that make them successful musicians". Jong Hyun is considered to have had a style in his music that is all his own, and was praised for writing and composing the majority of his solo tracks. Insight Korea mentioned him as one of seven idol group members who seemed to have been "born to music".
On December 18, 2017, Jong Hyun passed away after being found in a state of cardiac arrest at a rented apartment studio in Cheongdam-dong, Southern Seoul. It was revealed that, despite his success, his depression consumed him, as was noted in his final letter revealed through the internet.
A devastating loss. If you are depressed and suicidal, please call the Suicide Crisis Line. You are not alone.
