Biography

Kim Jong-hyun (김종현; April 8, 1990 – December 18, 2017), known professionally as Jonghyun (종현), was a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, radio host and author under the SM Entertainment. He was a member of the South Korean boy group SHINee. He also participated in the SM Entertainment's project ballad group, S.M. THE BALLAD. Jonghyun was also a solo artist, beginning in January 2015 with the release of his first EP album, Base. It peaked at number one on both the Billboard World Albums Chart and the Gaon Album Chart. On September 17 the same year, Jonghyun released a compilation album, Story Op.1. His debut studio album, She Is, was released on May 24, 2016, followed by his second compilation album, Story Op.2, on April 24, 2017. Jonghyun began his first solo concert tour, The Story by Jonghyun, on October 2, 2015. This was followed by three further concert tours in later years. He was regarded as one of the best vocalists in South Korea. His final album, Poet | Artist, was released posthumously on January 23, 2018. It was announced, prior to the release, that all profits from the album would be given to Jonghyun's mother and be used to start a charity foundation. In September 2018, the Shiny Foundation (빛이나 재단) was established by Jonghyun's family to help struggling young artists.