K-pop stars carry suicide singer's coffin

Six of K-pop's biggest stars carried the coffin of fellow singer Kim Jong-Hyun, who took his own life this week, as weeping fans lined the street. 

Kim, former lead singer of K-Pop bang SHINee, was found unconscious in an flat in the upscale Gangnam district in Seoul earlier this week, and later died in hospital.

The 27-year-old left behind a suicide note where he spoke of being 'engulfed' and 'broken inside' from depression.

Kim's body was taken to his funeral from the Asan Medical Centre in Seoul where it had been lying at rest.

The procession was led by one of Kim's bandmates from SHINee, bearing a plaque topped by a crucifix and reading 'Kim Jong-Hyun, believer', followed by his sister carrying a picture of Kim.

The coffin was carried by the three other SHINee members and three from Super Junior, another boyband managed by the same agency, SM Entertainment, which dominates the industry.

Dozens of prominent K-pop stars were present, including Girls' Generation, EXO and Red Velvet, bowing their heads and praying, while people at the back sang Christian hymns.

Fans, who have been coming in droves to the Asan Medical Centre for the past few days lined the streets outside.

Mostly made up of teenage girls, the crowds were seen crying as the coffin was carried out and taken away. 

The funeral itself was a  a private ceremony at an undisclosed location.  

But Kim, 27, was found unconscious in a hotel room in Seoul on Monday and was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Kim's close friend, musician Nine9, released his suicide note on her Instagram account, saying he had asked her to publish the message in the event of his death.

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.'   

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. 

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.'  

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. 

Source: AFP