'I am broken from inside': K-pop boy band singer who killed himself in a hotel room wrote he was 'engulfed' by depression in suicide note, friend reveals, as fans gather to mourn in Seoul
- Kim Jong-hyun was found unconscious in an apartment in Seoul, South Korea
- The 27-year-old was lead singer of the band SHINee before going solo in 2015
- Left note where he said he was 'engulfed' by depression and 'broken inside'
- Fans have gathered all over the world to mourn the beloved K-pop singer
The lead singer of South Korean boy band SHINee who took his own life had written a suicide note where he revealed that he was 'engulfed' by depression.
Kim Jong-hyun, 27, was found unconscious in an flat in Cheongdam-dong, in the upscale Gangnam district of the capital Seoul after his sister raised the alarm.
Today, hundreds of fans gathered at a mourning altar in Seoul, with teenagers and young adults breaking down in tears as they paid their respects to their idol.
Heartbreaking: Kim Jong-hyun, the lead singer of South Korea's top boy band SHINee, has died in an apparent suicide after being found unconscious in a flat
'I came here to say the last farewell... since we fans apparently couldn't be there for him when he needed help most,' said Jung Min-Kyung, 19.
'I think our country has very high expectations of celebrities,' she added.
Kim's suicide note was published on Instagram by his close friend, musician Nain9, who said that she had been asked to publish the message in the event of his death.
'I am broken from inside. The depression that gnawed on me slowly has finally engulfed me entirely,' it said, adding he 'couldn't defeat it anymore'.
'I was so alone. The act of ending is difficult. I've lived until now because of that difficulty.'
'Please tell me I did a good job,' he implored, ending the note with: 'You've worked hard. You've really gone through a lot. Goodbye.'
Heartbroken: Tearful fans gather to visit the mourning altar for Kim at a hospital in Seoul on
Mourning: A group of young girls are seen breaking down in tears at one of the many gatherings of fans paying their respects to Kim
Tragic: The portrait of Kim Jong-Hyun is seen on a mourning altar at the hospital
Paying respects: The death of Kim sent shockwaves across the K-pop scene worldwide
Fans line up to visit the mourning altar at the Seoul hospital where Kim died
Social media was flooded by thousands of messages of mourning, and many other K-pop stars in the stable of SHINee's agents SM Entertainment - which dominates K-pop - cancelled public appearances to visit the mourning altar in Seoul.
Kim's funeral would be held on Thursday, the firm said in a statement, adding: 'Other members of SHINee as well as other artists at our company are all mourning his death amid deep sorrow and shock.'
Seoul police said it seemed 'certain' that Kim's death was a suicide, adding they planned to close the case without an autopsy as requested by his family.
He was pronounced dead shortly after being moved to a hospital.
Authorities were alerted by his sister, after he sent her text messages reading: 'This is my last farewell' and 'Please let me go and say I did a good job.'
Depressed: The 27-year-old left behind a suicide note where he revealed that he had been suffering from depression
Kim Jong-hyun was found unconscious in an apartment in Cheongdam-dong, in the upscale Gangnam district of the capital Seoul. He was taken to a hospital (pictured) but later died
Kim was part of the five-member K-Pop boyband SHINee that had become one of the country's most popular in recent years.
They released their debut album, The Shinee World, in 2008, and went on to release another four - with some of them reaching Number 1 on the US Billboard World Albums chart.
The group has won a number of awards for their spectacular dance routines and a Japanese-language version of one of their hits, Replay, sold more than 100,000 copies in that country.
Kim was seen as a model K-pop celebrity, who boasted flawless singing and dancing skills and rarely made headlines with the romantic relationships, drink-driving or drug use that derailed the careers of many other artists.
He released his first solo album in 2015, topping the Billboard World Albums chart, and performed at solo concerts in Seoul only last week.
K-pop stars undergo cut-throat competition and gruelling years-long training at the hands of their agents, who dictate everything from music style to diet and even mobile phone use.
Many are also pressed to maintain a squeaky-clean and wholesome image at all times.
- For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, or see samaritans.org for details.
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