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| Kim Jong-hyun's fans bid an emotional farewell to K-pop star | Kim Jong-hyun's fans bid an emotional farewell to K-pop star |
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| Grief-stricken music fans have lined the streets in Seoul to farewell Kim Jong-hyun, the lead singer of the top South Korean K-pop band SHINee, who died this week in a suspected suicide. | |
| Crying and embracing one another, young men and women dressed in grey and black turned out on Thursday as a hearse carrying Kim’s coffin left the hospital in the South Korean capital. | |
| “I am so sad that I cannot even cry,” an 18-year-old Chinese fan, Chen Jialin, said. “My heart aches so much.” | |
| South Korea has one of the world’s highest rates of suicide, which is the chief cause of death of those under 30, and officials have urged distraught young people to seek help. | South Korea has one of the world’s highest rates of suicide, which is the chief cause of death of those under 30, and officials have urged distraught young people to seek help. |
| “Copycat deaths after high-profile celebrities’ suicides are very common,” said Shin Eun-jung, an official of the Korea suicide prevention centre. “The late K-pop singer was very popular among teenagers, who tend to be particularly vulnerable to emotions and traumas.” | “Copycat deaths after high-profile celebrities’ suicides are very common,” said Shin Eun-jung, an official of the Korea suicide prevention centre. “The late K-pop singer was very popular among teenagers, who tend to be particularly vulnerable to emotions and traumas.” |
| The singer, better known as Jonghyun, died in hospital in Seoul on Monday after he was found unconscious in his apartment. | The singer, better known as Jonghyun, died in hospital in Seoul on Monday after he was found unconscious in his apartment. |
| In a note made public a day after his death, the 27-year-old had said he felt “broken from inside”, highlighting the pressures facing young people in South Korea’s competitive entertainment industry. | |
| “The depression that gnawed on me slowly has finally engulfed me entirely,” Kim wrote, adding that he “couldn’t defeat it any more”. | “The depression that gnawed on me slowly has finally engulfed me entirely,” Kim wrote, adding that he “couldn’t defeat it any more”. |
| South Korea’s suicide rate of 24.1 per 100,000 residents in 2015, according to the latest data from the World Health Organisation, was more than double the global average of 10.7. | South Korea’s suicide rate of 24.1 per 100,000 residents in 2015, according to the latest data from the World Health Organisation, was more than double the global average of 10.7. |
| A health ministry official said: “We closely monitor news outlets as well as the number of suicides after celebrities’ deaths to prevent a suicide contagion among the broader public.” | |
| The concerns spread to Thailand, where officials on Wednesday urged vigilance for fans of Korean pop music who might be at risk of suicide. | |
| “Fans who are emotionally weak and depressed are at high risk when it comes to imitating what their idols do,” Samai Sirithongthaworn, a Thai mental health official said. | “Fans who are emotionally weak and depressed are at high risk when it comes to imitating what their idols do,” Samai Sirithongthaworn, a Thai mental health official said. |
| Kim spent nearly a decade as one of five members of SHINee, as well as being a solo artist.. | |
| The Yonhap news agency said Kim had sent a final message to his sister asking her to “let me go”. | The Yonhap news agency said Kim had sent a final message to his sister asking her to “let me go”. |
| K-pop singers can face demanding lifestyles as they are often groomed by music companies from an early age. | K-pop singers can face demanding lifestyles as they are often groomed by music companies from an early age. |
| “As top stars gain popularity, they are very much deprived of private life,” said Seok Jeong-ho, a psychiatry professor at Gangnam Severance hospital. | “As top stars gain popularity, they are very much deprived of private life,” said Seok Jeong-ho, a psychiatry professor at Gangnam Severance hospital. |
| “As mental problems cannot be seen, the importance of immediate treatment is often neglected.” | “As mental problems cannot be seen, the importance of immediate treatment is often neglected.” |
| In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. | In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. |