‘DEPRESSED’ K-POP STAR FOUND DEAD

The lead singer of popular South Korean boy band SHINee died on Monday, police said, in a possible suicide.

Kim Jong-hyun, better known by the stage name Jonghyun, was found unconscious at a residence hotel in Seoul and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, Seoul police said.

Police said Kim’s sister told them that the singer sent her text messages such as “Final farewell” and “I’ve had difficulties” before his death.

Police have yet to determine whether he killed himself.

Yonhap news agency said authorities found burned coal briquettes, which produce carbon monoxide, in a frying pan in Kim’s hotel room.

Kim debuted in 2008 as the main singer of SHINee, and cultivated a career as both a group member and a solo singer-song writer. His last public appearance was at a solo concert titled “Inspired” on Dec. 9-10 in Seoul, and he was scheduled to hold concerts with SHINee members in Tokyo and Osaka in February.

South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates among developed countries.

According to the Philippine Entertainment Portal, Kim left a suicide note through good friend Nine9 of Dear Cloud. Nine9 claimed that Kim gave her instructions to share the suicide note to the world when he dies.

Here is Kim’s note translated in English.

I am damaged from the inside. The depression that has been slowly eating away at me has completely swallowed me, and I couldn’t win over it. I hated myself. I tried to hold on to breaking memories and yelled at myself to get a grip, but there was no...