Seven years have passed since the tragic loss of SHINee member Jonghyun. On Wednesday, SM Entertainment shared a heartfelt message on SHINee’s official social media accounts to commemorate the seventh anniversary of his passing. The message read, “We will always love you,” with a poignant photograph of Jonghyun. In the image, he is seen dancing in a bright white outfit under radiant lights, his luminous presence reminding us that he will forever remain an integral part of SHINee although he is no longer with us.
Fans quickly filled the comments section with emotional tributes, expressing their enduring love and gratitude. Messages such as “We miss you so much and love you” and “Always grateful, always loving you” reflected the deep affection of the fandom. SHINee’s Minho also paid tribute, reposting the photo with the heartfelt words, “Love you so much,” underscoring his profound bond with his late bandmate.
Jonghyun debuted in 2008 as a member of the five-member group SHINee, alongside Onew, Key, Minho, and Taemin, under SM Entertainment. SHINee went on to become one of the most influential K-pop groups of all time, releasing numerous chart-topping hits, including their debut track “Replay” and iconic songs such as “Amigo,” “Love Like Oxygen,” “Juliette,” “Ring Ding Dong,” “Lucifer,” “Sherlock,” “Dream Girl,” “Everybody,” and “View.”
Beyond his success with SHINee, Jonghyun built a thriving solo career. He released beloved solo tracks like “Déjà-Boo,” “End of a Day,” and “Shinin’” and showcased his talent as a songwriter by penning songs for other artists, including Lee Hi’s “Breathe”, IU’s “A Gloomy Clock”, EXO’s “Playboy” and Taemin’s “Pretty Boy”. Jonghyun also displayed his versatility as a radio host, helming the popular program Blue Night on MBC FM4U.
Tragically, on December 18th, 2017, Jonghyun was found in cardiac arrest at a residence in Seoul. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he passed away at the age of 27. In the wake of this devastating loss, Jonghyun’s family established the Shiny Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young artists and honoring his legacy by nurturing emerging talent.
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