Today, December 18th marks the 6th anniversary of SHINee member Jonghyun’s passing. The beloved artist became a star in the sky on December 18, 2017, at the age of 27.
In remembrance, SM Entertainment shared a photo of Jonghyun performing on SHINee’s official social media with the message, “We always love you.” SHINee member Minho also paid tribute by posting a heartfelt message alongside a photo of Jonghyun. He wrote, “It’s a warm winter again today thanks to you. I miss you even more this year, hyung. Always missing you a lot, remembering a lot, and talking a lot about you!” He added, “I just visited Hyung and met your mother on the way back. Don’t worry, I comforted her well. Many people miss you a lot. Just saying. Hyung, think of me sometimes too. See you again.”
Jonghyun, born on April 8, 1990, debuted as SHINee’s main vocalist in May 2008. He was celebrated not only for his vocal prowess but also for his songwriting and composing skills. He penned lyrics for SHINee’s ‘Juliette’ and ‘View’, as well as for IU’s ‘Gloomy Clock’, Son Dam-bi’s ‘Red Candle’, EXO’s ‘Playboy’, and Lee Hi’s ‘Breathe’.
From February 2014 to April 2017, Jonghyun connected with fans through his radio show ‘Blue Night, Jonghyun’, where he showcased his compositions in the ‘Blue Night Lyricist Composer’ segment, later releasing them in the albums ‘Story Op.1’ and ‘Story Op.2’. His solo songs ‘End of a Day’ and ‘Lonely’, featuring Taeyeon, were widely loved.
Jonghyun held his first solo concert in 2016, with his second taking place on December 9 and 10 2017, just days before his passing. His posthumous album ‘Poet | Artist’ was released in January the following year. The title track ‘Shinin” inspired Jonghyun’s family to establish the non-profit foundation ‘Shinin” to support the growth and talents of cultural and artistic individuals.
Jonghyun’s legacy continues to shine brightly, and he remains deeply missed by his fans, friends, and family.