On December 18, 2017, Jonghyun was found in a state of cardiac arrest at a residence in Seoul. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he tragically passed away. His sudden death sent shockwaves through the Korean entertainment industry and devastated fans worldwide.
Born on April 8, 1990, Jonghyun debuted in May 2008 as the main vocalist of SHINee, instantly capturing hearts with his powerful voice. The group rose to stardom with hit songs like Replay, Love Like Oxygen, Ring Ding Dong, and Lucifer.
Beyond his vocal prowess, Jonghyun was also a gifted songwriter and composer. He wrote lyrics for SHINee’s Juliette and View, and penned songs for other top artists including IU (Gloomy Clock), Son Dambi (Red Candle), EXO (Playboy), and Lee Hi (Breathe). His contributions solidified his status as a respected artist in the K-pop scene.
From 2014 to 2017, Jonghyun hosted his own radio show, Blue Night with Jonghyun, where he connected deeply with listeners through candid conversations and music. In 2016, he held his first solo concert and followed it with another in December 2017—just eight days before his passing.
IU, a close friend of Jonghyun, once paid tribute by singing Gloomy Clock at her concert in Singapore, a song written by Jonghyun himself. Fellow SM artists like Taeyeon and Leeteuk, along with SHINee members, have continued to honor his memory annually.
In February 2025, during an episode of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, SHINee’s Key opened up emotionally about Jonghyun, sharing, “I was really shaken back then. I wondered, ‘What’s the point of life? Should I just quit everything?’”
He continued, “We all lived through a lot of collapse emotionally. The Tokyo Dome concert became the moment we chose to grieve together. Without such a space, it felt unbearable. We wanted to properly send off his short but dazzling youth.”
Key also reflected on Jonghyun’s continued presence in their lives: “Whenever it’s his birthday or memorial day, I miss him so much. When we record new songs, I often think, ‘Jonghyun would have done this so well.’ He appears in my dreams—not giving signs, but just sitting there in meetings. It feels like he’s always with us. We’re always five.”
In April, Minho also posted a heartfelt tribute on what would have been Jonghyun’s 36th birthday: “Happy birthday. I always miss you,” alongside a photo of the two together.
Jonghyun’s legacy continues through his family’s non-profit foundation Shiny, established in 2018. The organization supports music creators with grants, fostering creativity and emotional healing through music.
His sister, who manages the foundation, has also publicly shared her journey of grief and healing. In a heartfelt message, she encouraged others to speak up and seek community: “Let’s not stay trapped in that time. Let’s come out together and overcome it.”
Eight years may have passed, but Jonghyun’s light continues to shine—in his music, in the hearts of his fans, and in the memories cherished by his loved ones.