A foundation has been established by the family of SHINee’s Jonghyun to support young South Korean creatives in his memory.
In an interview with Esquire Korea, part of which was shared on Instagram on Thursday (Sept. 6), the star’s mother and director of the Shinin’ Foundation (also known as Shiny Foundation or The Light Foundation) Lee Eun Kyung spoke about the new venture, which was established this year following the passing of Jonghyun in December.
“Until now, it still hurts when I go somewhere and I hear music playing that has my son’s voice in it,” Lee told Esquire Korea, translates Soompi. “But even though my son has gone, there are people who love and enjoy his music, and for that I am always grateful.”
Bearing the name of the single “Shinin’” (“???”) from Jonghyun’s posthumous album Poet | Artist and also a reference to his band SHINee and its “shining SHINee (??? ???)” tagline, the foundation will work with young artists, particularly high school-aged ones, to nurture their careers and mental well-being. Its current goal is to establish a psychotherapy center to support creatives, and there are plans to hold art festivals each December in commemoration and celebration of Jonghyun. The foundation will be funded through the royalties collected by his music.
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Jonghyun, born Kim Jonghyun but known mononymously, was a popular South Korean singer-songwriter and member of the K-pop boy band SHINee prior to his death last year by suicide. His album Poet | Artist debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 177 on the chart dated Feb. 3.