December 19, 2017, 09:30 PM 
SHINee's lead vocalist Kim Jong Hyun's death on Dec. 18 has been ruled a suicide.
A hectic life
Born on April 8, 1990, the singer is better known as Jonghyun. He was spotted by S.M. Entertainment talent scouts in 2005 during a singing contest.
At only 15 then, he was inducted into the South Korean pop culture machinery when he was only a teenager.
Debut in 2008
He debuted as part of five-piece boy band SHINee in 2008, after three years of training at the talent agency.
The band released its EP Replay.
Jonghyun was the de facto main vocalist of the group as he stood out with his powerful voice and dancing ability.
His skills were also demonstrated outside the band as part of S.M.'s project group S.M. The Ballad.
In 2015, he even launched a solo career with the EP Base, followed by his first studio album She Is in 2016.
Success in group and alone
Jonghyun also saw success as a solo artist.
He received the bonsang award at the 2016 Golden Disk and was nominated for the best male artist award at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
He was also recognised for his songwriting.
He penned the lyrics for Shinee's hit, Juliet, and he wrote the lyrics and melodies for most of the songs in his solo career.
Jonghyun released the special album, Winter Wonderland in January 2017, followed by the compilation album Story Op.1 in September.
On top of his music, he was also a radio DJ, hosting a show on MBC radio from 2014 to April 2017.
His last solo concerts were wrapped up after they took place on Dec. 9 to 10, 2017.
SHINee was expected to hold a Japan concert in February 2018.
Jonghyun was also expected to appear on JTBC's Night Goblin that is scheduled to be aired on Sunday on the week of his passing.
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Depression
Throughout his time in the limelight, fans and industry people were aware of his fight against depression.
A final photo on his Instagram account on Nov. 20 showed lyrics from a song by the group Dear Cloud, which read, "persistent scars and sighs of exhaustion, will they have stopped?"
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbtvv0mDvdM/
Subsequently, Jonghyun's suicide note showed that he was struggling with depression.
The note said: "The depression that was slowly devouring me at last consumed me."
Brutal K-pop industry
SHINee's formation and stratospheric rise since 2008 has cast the spotlight back on the brutal but lucrative K-pop industry.
Manufactured by Korean music industry band maker, SM Entertainment, SHINee is but one of the groups groomed for mass consumption.
This is the company that was also behind Girls Generation, solo singers Kangta and BoA, and numerous other boybands, TVXQ, Super Junior, HOT and more.
Consistent and intense
SHINee's work ethic is evident in that they have not had members drop out.
They are a rare case of a band still commercially viable and well-loved one decade into the business.
K-pop artistes sign contracts with draconian terms in their early teens that make them abide by harsh rules.
They are tied to specific management companies, such as SM Entertainment.
They train in a competitive environment against others, who are potential superstars. The cutthroat environment produces the biggest stars.
Besides excelling in song and dance routines, their personal lives are also strictly monitored and controlled.
Strict dating rules apply, as members have to appear virginal and perpetually available for fans to pin their own desires or aspirations on.
Diets of artistes are also closely monitored.
In 2012, girl group Nine Muses revealed their “paper cup diet” required their meals to fit inside a tiny paper cup.
Easing of contractual obligations
One K-pop group even took their management company to court for keeping them in a 13-year contract.
More standardised contracts that imposed a seven-year limit were introduced in 2008, but less than half of management agencies use the standardised contracts.
Early termination is met with penalties.
If a band member wants to leave early, the penalty paid to the company can be based on projected profits foregone for the remainder of the contract.
Mandatory enlistment
South Korea still has mandatory enlistment for males.
K-pop idols are not immune, but can have their enlistment dates delayed.
But it will still shave off two years from their full-time, life-consuming profession.
G-Dragon has been called up and will begin in 2018.
Jonghyun was expected to be enlisted by 2019.
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