The lead singer of the South Korean boy band Shinee has died after being taken to hospital in an unconscious state, South Korean news agency has reported without giving any source for the information.
Kim Jong-hyun – better known as Jonghyun – was found unconscious at his home in Seoul.
The JoongAng Daily newspaper reported that the cause of Kim’s death appeared to be suicide.
The five-member boy band have become one of the country’s most popular since releasing their debut album, The Shinee World, in 2008.
In 2011, Shinee made a successful foray into the Japanese market, and have since built a huge fanbase there.
The Japanese-language version of their single Replay sold more than 100,000 copies in Japan – at the time, this was the highest number of sales in the country for a debut single by a South Korean group.
Shinee are considered among the best live performers in K-pop and have won multiple awards for their complex dance routines.
