Please remember that you are not alone and that there is never, ever any shame in seeking help. Talk to someone, the world is a better place with you in it.
pic at 0:11 is not jonghyun. Thank you for talking about him though, us fans of shinee are suffering greatly right now. No one should have to go through what he was going through.
Oh no Phil!!!! You have the wrong photo of Jonghyun. The boy in blue on the left is a different Kim Jonghyun..... edit: YES I KNOW HE ADDRESSES IT. I commented this within a minute or two of the video being posted, and it hadn't been addressed at that point.
Thank you for covering Jonghyun's story. I'm sad to say that I won't be able to watch today's show because Jonghyun's death still a very fresh wound in the K-Pop fandom. His death came as a shock to all of us. The k-pop industry isn't a pretty place and there is a really bad stigma in Korea about mental health. He was a wonderful and talented man who has helped us through our dark time and was many others first kpop group. He was so passionate about his music and loved his band mates so much but sadly this angel was called back to heaven too soon.
He was seeing help... he told the doctors that he just couldn't be happy and the doctors kept telling him he needed to have a "reason". He kept telling them that his reason was simply himself. They kept telling him he had to have a BIGGER reason. They didn't take him seriously. Mental health issues are stigmatized in Korea, they see it as "fake" diseases, used by people to be lazy, many people lose their jobs if it's found out they have depression or anything like that.
on a tropical island I live It’s Jonghyun but yes!! He even wrote it on his long suicide note. It made him believe that it was his own fault which is why he blamed himself and died..
this is what angers me the most, that the doctor told him depression was just part of his personality. something really needs to change regarding mental health in korea...
Breanna C. Oh my gosh!!!!! How did you find out these details? I'm so hurt :( I can't believe he sought out help and they did this to him. Those doctors need to lose their license. If he was unhappy with just himself it was clearly a mental issue!! And they said he must have a bigger reason? Oh my gosh
Effy 21 This. His doctor needs to have their license revoked. It absolutely is unethical and ignorant to blame the patient and their personality for whats causing them to be depressed. I'm furious, it was the last thing that Jonghyun needed to hear and it was the straw that broke the camel's back
That is very true. In most east asian countries, mental health has only been recently acknowledged as an actual thing but still get ignored and treated improperly. Many people dont seek out for help or he help they get is mediocre and most of the time, people with mental illness are heavily shunned and seen as a shame to society
Holy shit, this is probably the last place I thought I would see talking about Jonghyun! However, I'm very glad and thankful you did. I'm also happy that you took the time to talk about the suicide rates in South Korea. I hope that Jonghyun's unfortunate passing serves as a type of eye opener to SK, so they finally stop treating mental illness as something to be ashamed of and start providing those in need with help. Regardless, my thoughts and prayers go out to Jongyun's family, friends and shawols. Rest in Peace Jonghyun, you'll always be in our hearts.
Shinee was one of the first groups I fell in love with their music. I cried for hours, I couldn't believe it. Honestly I still can't believe it. Jonghyun was an incredible advocate for mental health and LGBT rights. His passing shines a light on mental health that needs to be talked about.
When I first jumped on the SHINee bandwagon back in 2008, Onew was my bias. But I left KPop for a few years, came back to it, and Jonghyun really caught my eye both visually and, most importantly, his insane talent. I respected him, and I saw random videos online of him just being awesome. I wouldn't consider myself a major Shawol, but I had/have major respect for Jonghyun and, reading more about him and what I missed over the years, the respect increases. Having been severely affected by suicide in my life, it really hits close to home whenever someone takes their own life. I'd still be upset over his death if there was another cause, but that just makes it that much worse. I've been devastated all day today, and I spent a good amount of time talking to a friend of mine about mental health issues and how they're handled, especially in South Korea. I know that we all wish we could turn back time and give him a hug, let him know he was/is loved, and was super, super talented.
Dulce G Assuming it is a suicide, some discussion really needs to be opened up about the life of idols and how they're treated in the industry. I don't know how their particular group came to be, but if it's anything like the other kpop groups, something needs to be said. An industry that is manufacturing pop stars from birth to be perfect, marketable figures to the public would probably turn out a lot of people with a lot of potential for mental health issues.
Wow, didn't expect to see Phil talk about kpop, let alone Jonghyun. Thank you so much for giving his story visibility and letting the world know that a beautiful soul has left us this week :(
Jonhyun was getting help, though, but his own doctor told him to his face that he was to blame for feeling that way. He also was asking for help left and right, in his music, in interviews, in his last video he actually asked people for ways to get over his depression. Also, right before he committed suicide, he went out to the store and then made a lot of noise with his car outside, but no one stopped him. It was a clusterfuck of events.
I said it once and i will say it again. Kim Jonghyun was a beacon of hope and happiness for so many. He was inclusive in an place that excludes many who do not fit social "norms". He changed the industry with his unique and beautiful voice. He left a legacy and he will never be forgotton. Rest peacefully, Kim Jonghyun. You worked hard.
It feels like just yesterday i was listening to SHINee’s Ring Ding Dong. I’ve been listening to their music for so long. It’s hard to imagine that something like this would happen. What could have happened to push him over the edge like this😞? I’m so sad that this happened😔. Pls Rest in peace Jonghyun. U will be missed and we will continue to love you. My condolonces to his friends and families. I hope they stay strong. P.S. If anyone is feeling depressed, especially depressed to the point that they are thinking of suicide, pls talk to somebody. There is always someone out there who wishes to help you. It might not be so obvious as to who it is, but there is always someone.
He said in his suicide note that he wasn't allowed to be himself...the *real* him. He also recently pledged his support for LGBT rights. As you probably know K-Pop bands have extremely strict management and if a member was gay, he would be forced to hide it. I believe this is what led to Jonghyun'g terrible depression. This is just my opinion. Thanks.
Yoruichi Shihouin environment or situational reasons usually come secondary to causation. He was depressed because he felt he could not change his personality "flaw" that is his depression. For me, my depression is like an inescapable thought process and insecurity of my mind not being capable of handling the work I want to do. When your mind is becoming lost or not efficient for handling and seeing hope in life you feel undeserving to any life scenario-- you don't know how to feel true happiness in any good or bad situation situation because of all the self depreciation and doubt. I lost a brother from drugs so I feel for His sister-- losing a brother is a traumatizing event. We were very close and planned to try to get through life together and I don't know what to do now. Insecurity in your craft, disappointment in yourself and ability. Hopeless frustration and struggling cycles, you can't escape yourself and your brain so it never turns off. Depression is the reason and the killer--situations can fuel it worse when no one can relate or sympathize.
RandomIsMyLif3 That’s terrible for him to experience. My condolences to you and your family for the loss of your brother. Also, your depression sounds very similar to mine. I can’t give u amazing advice because i’m stil trying to find a “cure”(for lack of a better word) for mine or better coping mechanisms. But what i can tell u is “stay strong”. I think that one day we’ll be able to look back and find that we’re doing much, much better than we did in the past. I hope it gets better for you soon. Or rather, i hope it gets better for the both of us soon.
RandomIsMyLif3 For him to think that. It’s actually more than terrible. It’s really saddening. I hope that wherever he is right now, Jonghyun finds peace.
Phil thank you for talking about Jonghyun.. but you used the wrong photo 0:15 that's not him... that's another Kim Jonghyun, he is another kpop idol but he's from Nuest and is very much still alive... honest mistake they have the same name but can you please fix that
Jonghyun said in his note, he tried to get professional help and the doctor made it worse. He tried to reach out and he felt worse, Asian countries need to wake up and realize how damaging their lack of knowledge and acknowledgment to these things are.
Living in Hong Kong, it is completely sigmatized. There is little to no public funding to provide mental health services or awareness and is barely spoken about in our society. The act of waking up is way more easily said than done when the older generation doesnt believe in it.
Clarissa Lim i couldn't even begin to imagine the struggles you guys go through. I'm sure it's very hard to get through older generations heads, but hopefully the younger ones coming up will make a breakthrough
tastelessratatouille I couldn't even imagine being told that. It must've felt awful reaching out and being told that it's you're own fault when you can't control it. This shows how serious depression is and I just hope people will realize that...
Jonghyun was most adored by all of the idol industry. He was the true definition of an artist and he was looked up to. He supported LGBTQ+ and Mental Health Awareness. He's been vocal of his depression for years now. He also had a therapist who told him DEPRESSION IS A PERSONALITY TRAIT. His suicide letter explains it. The therapist didn't work. His circle didn't help much because in S. Korea, mental health issues aren't dealt with ideally. He probably needed a whole lot of things. He tried reaching out. He was exercising, writing songs, and staying communicative. The system let him down. I hate this. My sunshine dinosaur is gone. He deserved better.
We don't know every detail of what went down with the psychiatrist. I don't think we have the right to judge and point fingers when we do not know the whole picture. People say that this kind of presumptuous judgments based on assumption is poisonous to their idols' lives then turn around and spread this kind of shit right here. Even though Jonghyun might have perceived things the way he wrote in his farewell letter, who is to say with confidence that that's what the doctor meant for him to hear? I know for a fact reading the letter that the doctor didn't say that depression was a damn personality trait 😂 there's even misunderstandings happening with you and the letter, who is to say that there wasn't a misunderstanding between a doctor and a mentally ill patient? When I was in depression, no one could help me until I wanted to help myself. Every word my loved ones and doctor said seemed like it was targeting my personality and my existence. I was constantly hopeless, discontented, guilty and furious with myself. It's an inner turmoil. Nothing anyone would say could relieve me. Th e doctor could've been the thoughtless, money hungry person that everyone is accusing him to be, or he could've genuinely wanted to help Jonghyun. He could've prescribed medicine that Jonghyun refused to take or he could've not given him any medicine at all. We Simply Do Not Know Enough to lay down accusations left and right. This kind of behavior is hypocritical af. In a time of mourning, fans are screaming at other fans to stop cursing idols based on assumptions while they're doing it themselves. And news flash, Jonghyun said he was hurting because he was "not meant to crash with the world." Not just Korea. But the world. Please reflect upon this, international fans around the globe, and don't jump to blame Korean fans. 🙄🙄 And Honestly with the whole mental issues thing... No country seems to be handling it well. I live in America and already 6 people have committed suicide within the first few weeks of the semester at my local university and the majority of people who are responsible for mass shootings and cold blooded murders are later revealed to have mental disorders of all kinds. Is it an open topic in America? Is it treated well here? Then why is there so much crime related to mentally ill people? It's scary af. This world we're living in is an absolute chaos right now. Let's not have even a 1% chance of labeling an innocent person as guilty because we were foolish enough to jump to a conclusion before having all our facts down.
I think on behalf of the entire K-pop Community we thank you for covering Jonghyun story SHINee is one of the best K-pop groups and has been since their debut and to see someone who was as bubbly as him commit suicide because of depression that he talked about is such a loss. We love you.
Xavier Cockerton, this is a serious topic. Not something to make fun of. Many people were affected by his suicide and the suicide is bringing up serious conversation globally.
I haven't been keeping up for a while (since 2NE1 split) I was crushed when i heard. SHINee were legends. If he was still signed with SME I know exactly who I blame...it's so tragic.
0:00 - 2:43 Kim Jong-hyun Story 2:44 - 5:20 Miss Iraq and Miss Israel Story 5:21 - 6:33 Today In Awesome 6:34 - 7:26 Charlottesville update 7:27 - 10:31 CDC "Banned Words" Story 10:32 - End Train Derailment in Washington Story
In a lot of Asian countries (not all), mental health disorders are usually taken lightly, and often times people can't speak about it in seriousness because others tend to say that "oh its just a phase" or "suck it up". It's looked down upon, too. Where I lived (a country in asia) people called mentally challenged individuals as "possessed" or "emotionally weak", and they don't treat it as an illness. On the other hand people would sometimes fire those with milder case of mental health problems, albeit they're doing their job better than those who don't suffer, only firing hem because they're diagnosed with something. Anyways that's what I noticed in this particular asian country that I lived in. It's harder to seek for help knowing that you get judged and possibly lose your job. In jonghyuns case (if Korea goes through the same thing when dealing with mental health), he was in the entertainment industry, and if his depression was publicized, he may have felt that people wouldn't be accepting of him being this influencer who suffered from depression. But in the end, it's better to get help, no matter who judges. Also, to my fellow kpoppers, we're all shawols today out of respect and support for the amazing lead singer we had lost.
+m o o n t r u t h e r This is the nature of modern east asia, it is cutthroat and brutal. People are generally far too cold and selfish. It is a "someone else will do it" type of attitude leading to nobody helping anybody. That is if you are lucky, and as you say, you are not classed as being a failure or "weak".
I can agree, it’s not Asians that aren’t sympathetic towards mental illnesses, it’s that they find it difficult to understand it as it isn’t really spoken about or taken seriously. When I was diagnosed with depression and told my parents they didn’t take it seriously and thought I was just being grumpy, because they didn’t understand how it worked. It definitely needs to be discussed more within Asia.
Sam for sure. Not only that, but as an Asian person myself it's very very difficult for us to open up about personal issues, whether it's being depressed or just under the weather (like getting a not so good mark on a quiz). Again I hope this can improve so that the suicide rates (caused by these issues) can go down, and more people acknowledge mental health properly.
I honestly have no idea who he is/was until this video so I looked him up, never listened to Kpop before but I now understand why there are so so many fans! Their music is actually really catchy!! It’s so sad that he’s gone, South Korea’s mental health system is absolutely fucking useless!! And that’s coming from someone with bipolar struggling with the UKs shit mental health services
They were tying to help him, but with people with depression, it's more of a struggle within themselves. If they don't want to accept help, there's nothing more others can do. And it seems like mental systems in every country needs work. I'm afraid to go outside in America because more than half of those who go out and shoot a bunch of innocent people are later revealed to have some mental disorder. 🙄
Bean s what op means is that he went to a doctor and the doctor blamed Jonghyun for his depression rather than trying to to help him. Saying it was his fault for feeling the way he did.
CamBam ThankYouMaam we don't know if that's how the doctor meant to come across as. I know when I was in depression, I felt like I was being targeted no matter what and thought that I was being blamed for my feelings regardless of what anyone said. I was constantly anxious, guilty, discontent and hopeless. Jonghyun most likely suffered similar symptoms. But we don't know how his sessions with the doctor actually went as we weren't there, so I don't think we have the right to judge the doctor
Guys please read the description of the video. Phill has addressed the fact that he used the wrong picture in this video in his most recent one. The picture that was used was from a member of Nuest that happens to have the same name as Jonghyun. On a different note, let us all stay strong and send our love to shawols. Let us stand together and help each other. ❤️
fake news. disappointed in Phil who advocates for doing a simple google search for finding correct information, but himself cannot even find the right picture for a famous man who committed suicide. How was he not able to see that it was not the same man? not all Asians look alike. Now many will think Kim Jonghyun from Nuest is dead.
lorna ly on the video that was posted yesterday he explains what happened. They used a source that had the wrong picture of Jonghyun in it, which was the same picture that was used here from the Nuest member. They realized it in time but somehow ended up posting the video without correcting the issue. Please realize that the Phillip DeFranco show is not only Phill but an entire team as well. It was an unfortunate mistake that should never have happened but there is clearly no ill will behind it. I understand how people might be frustrated about it but let's not stray away from the fact that Phill decided to cover Jonghyun story to not only bring awareness to it but to also encourage people to take mental illness more seriously.
It's so dissapointing like... Jonghyun's face has been all over the place being used for people who want some views and he couldn't even see he got the wrong one? damn youtubers
This is saddening to hear and I still cannot believe that he left us. I keep thinking that this is a very bad dream but it isn’t. Right now is a depressing time for shinee and the fans, so even if you aren’t a hardcore fan we have to support them through this difficult time. It’s very difficult for the kpop community because when you become a fan you become a part of a big warm welcoming family so when something bad happens we all feel the sadness that comes our way. R.I.P jonghyun you will be missed. #staystrongshinee #staystrongshawols
Jimin you got no jams! This is definitely devastating news! Jonghyun will always be my first K Pop Crush. I’m actually a fairly new member of ARMY and your pic and user name got my attention. I just hope with all of my heart that our boys feel able to talk about deep subjects with each other. I will forever be proud of Suga for speaking out and facing his anxiety and depression, and I am super grateful that they decided to live together in their new dorm! Love yourself, love myself, peace! ❤️❤️❤️
cutie.trash ❤️ during this time in the year shawols need all the support they need along with shinee, the kpop community is here for you. Through thick and thin the k community will always have our backs.
I love you, Phil. But there's something I gotta say. A lot of people, myself included, know that there is no shame in seeking help. That isn't the problem. The problem is that there is no way for a lot of us to get that help. I'm 24 and totally directionless in life, but I cannot seek counseling because BCBS doesn't cover it, and I can't afford to pay for it out of pocket because I work part-time, *because there are no fucking jobs here in Alabama.* You're right, there is no shame in seeking help. That isn't the problem. The problem is, for a lot of people, it doesn't matter if you want help or not, it's unattainable either way.
The whole of the kpop community mourns his death and we hope he rests in peace. It’s horrible that mental health issues are stigmatized so much, it is a real problem and real health issue that needs to be treated. If anyone is reading it if you believe you need help, ask, there are many people out there to help you and that can understand you. We are here to help you, remember your are apart of our world too.
Naina Dhaliwal Its so unfortunate that it's stigmatized. I'm grateful that at least the whole community is coming together and I've also seen many people offering support to each other.
Kim Jong-Hyun influenced many...not only artists, but fans as well. In South Korea, doctors will mock you for coming to them asking for help. A lot of agencies have stepped up to help their idols and trainees heal and even have suicide watches...but even then they slip through. Kim Jong-Hyun was one of them. He had doctors turn him away, and many people believe that the police didn't believe his sister when she reported to them after getting a suspicious text. Stay strong Shawols... we're a k-pop family...it doesn't matter what fandom. We all love you.
he wasn't "upset" its clinical depression, I've battled it since I was 13 and am now 22 and its not about being upset its those lingering thoughts of hopelessness, loss of self esteem even if you portray that you haven't lost it. I feel for him and I've never listened to k pop, we need to stop overusing the word depression to the point where we use words like upset to wonder why he was committed suicide. I'm also not trying to attack you just wanted to clarify
Bob Pickleson it's was some in Iraq dont drag 1.5 billion people into this. Just because some people in a backwards country are assholes doesn't mean 1/5 of the world is
I didn't know much about Junghyun until about a week or so ago, when he showed his support publicly for a transgender/bisexual student. Since then he's taken a ton of hate from a very conservative Korean online group. In Korea it's not as common to see someone in the public eye who is brave enough to do something like that, I was very happy to see it. He was young, talented, and had a lot more to give. I wish the best for his family and friends and fans.
김미나 There was also long-standing rumors that he was gay, something that if it were true, he would never in a million years be allowed to discuss publicly.
+azalago I definitely don't wanna speculate, but I really do worry that for whatever reason (whether it was because he himself was gay or just because he was in a bad state of mind already) the negative and hateful comments he got pushed him that way. It's a very sad situation.
I’ve seen a lot of people talk about Jonghyun’s death with no intention besides getting views, people who take advantage of a tragedy to get attention. Clicking on this video I was worried that it would be more of the same, despite having a higher expectation for you. Instead you took this as an opportunity to talk about mental health, specifically reaching out to a society where kids will take their life without a second thought because their grades drop. Thank you for not being terrible, at least there are some relatively decent people in the world.
I wish Jonghyun gotten that help bc he tried and the doctor quickly shut him down and this is an example how South Korea doesn’t take metal health serious like they also have the #2 highest suicide rate .
K-pop Idols are humans too. Hope this is a wake up call for both the Korean industry and those fans who forgets that their oppa's have got feeling too. Hope they would stop posting bloody hate comments on their social media when they do something remotely human like date. Just heartbreaking man. SHINee was the first k-pop band I got into, followed by EXO and Big band. Still can't believe it to be honest. RIP Kim Jong-hyun.
Kanav Kohli I'm korean and I just don't care about K pop. I mean, if you can understand the lyrics, they all seem the same(hint: mostly about love and heartbreak.)
Flo I don't think it's the fans with hateful comments, it's the 7 year old trolls. They're way worse here in Korea than in America. Internet etiquette is dead here, we need that more.
With the story about Jonghyun, I just hope there aren't a lot of copy-cat suicides because of this. I remember when Kurt Cobain committed suicide, and he was at his peak at the time, there were some fans that felt the need to kill themselves because he did. They felt hopeless without him and Nirvana, so they chose to go out like Cobain. I hope fans that feel the need to do that get professional help.
I'm not sure if SHINee will disband after this horrible news, but who knows what SM (their label and also the devil) might do, they could go as a 4 people group.
I appreciate you talking about Jonghyun oppa (despite the wrong display pic, I honestly don't care rn). As an avid watcher of this channel and a HUGE K-Pop fan, it means a lot to see you cover this story despite being a little out of your element with it.
I think it's really touching that Phil has gone out of his way to cover a story that is out of his element, to respect his viewers and the loss of a huge inspirational figure in K-pop T^T
I say this as someone who has lived in Korea for 6 years. I think the deeper problem is that people don't seek help because mental illness is a cultural taboo or not even widely recognized as a serious thing. It's very uncommon for a friend or family member to suggest professional help. Workplaces don't recognized it either. (Especially hard to deal with if your deep into the Kpop industry) In fact people might respond like "you need to be tougher, everyone's life is hard, yours is no different" People don't want to be shame the person by suggesting counseling, people don't want to be shamed for needing it, and when one does say that they receive counseling it's met with social out casting. It's hard to understand how influencial those things are from a western point of view where we more often our identity and self perception is made from within more than from a group oriented consciousness. Anyway, it's sad that's the reality, and it needs to change. Thanks for covering the story
the photo for jonghyun @ 0:15 was wrong :/ but thank you for covering the story PhillyD, it means a lot! I'm sure his fans are very appreciative and the visibility on suicide in korea is very important.
To everyone commenting that he posted the wrong Kim Jonghyun: please read the description and don't just keep posting the same thing others have. Rest in peace Jonghyun. You will be terribly missed 💔
The K-Pop world is dark, scary and manipulative. Artists and performers are trapped in contracts that leave them in relative poverty while the companies essentially own them. They have no control over their own lives and live every day under the thumb of people who want nothing but for them to work themselves to death in the name of the almighty dollar. I used to love K-pop until I learned more about it, and the passing of Jong-hyun is terribly sad, but unfortunately, not surprising.
This. Exactly this. Simon and Martina of EYK stopped featuring Kpop on their channel BECAUSE they found out just how vile the industry is/was and how vicious the rabid fanbase is. What happened with Jong-hyun isn't uncommon. I mean, the fans went on a witch hunt because one girl from a girl group was found out about having a boyfriend and was shamed to the point that she buzzed her hair off. How is that at all healthy?? Kpop fans all seem blind to it and it's horrifying.
+boop daboops. This is... an extremely misinformed comment. Not that the Kpop industry is perfect, but a lot of that stuff is completely inaccurate. 1. What happened with Jong-Hyun was very uncommon. There hasn't been any suicides, at least not of such a well-known and popular idol, in the Kpop industry for quite a while, at least not that I've heard of, and I stay relatively up-to-date on the Kpop scene. 2. The girl that shaved her hair off was Japanese. You're thinking of Jpop. Kpop is Korean. They are not the same thing. 3. Most Kpop fans are aware of the state of the Kpop industry. While the things that you listed were almost entirely false, there are still quite a few things that I personally don't like about the industry. But that doesn't mean that I will stop supporting my favorite artists, or listening to my favorite songs.
Morrispook Not to the same extent. These K-Pop bands are trained since childhood on everything from dancing and singing to how to behave. And if they do get selected to be stars, they are given mandatory plastic surgery and skin bleaching. The women aren't even allowed to be public about their relationships because they know they'll lose fans if they're not single. I'm sure there's more too. Yes, American artists are told what to wear, how to sound, and interview tips but not half as intensely.
I am sadden by jonghyun's death, but korea isn't the best place to get help. I'm from korea so I can understand; because most companies don't take in depressed trainee's and even if they did it's a very few companies that allow it. You can't get many jobs either with a mental illness. If he did seek help he would of got better slowly, but that doesn't mean sm wouldn't of let him promote or even film, so I can understand if jonghyun didn't get help just for the sake of making shawols and other people happy. Most idols who have depression are either kicked out or made back as a trainee because they believe they're slowing down the profits or just dragging down the group in general. So please don't think an idol thats depressed can stop hurting so easily. *THIS ISNT A HATE COMMENT, THIS IS MY LIGHT ON HOW THE KOREAN IDOL BUSINESS GOES*
nct bean my mom's learning Korean from a man who lives there, that's the impression I get from what I've heard, the working conditions are extremely hard and unfair.
I'm seriously devastated about Jong Hyun! I've been a fan of his since I was 14 (I'm 22 now). I kinda grew out of the kpop fandom but this still hurts. S. Korea really should stop stigmatizing mental health, I see it all the time. It's basically "suck it up and keep moving", type of attitude they seem to have sometimes.
In my experience Koreans seem to put too much value in their public image. So much so that it hinders/prevents them from seeking help they need since they would risk "ruining" their image of success/wealth/popularity/etc. I'm sure it is for Americans and people of other countries as well but perhaps even more for Koreans.
I only became a fan during their 1of1 era. Still he made me laugh and his songs touched my soul. It still hurts to hear the news of his death. When I heard the news I was in denial.
i get it, i was a HUGE kpop fan fell off about 2 or 3 years ago but shinee was as its prime when i was watching, but knowing the kpop world and netcitzens and locked in for life contracts, i can understand how that world would be mentally draining. I does make me sad.
Correct me if I'm wrong but that picture that you have of the guy in blue that you said is Jong-hyun isn't the same Jong-hyun as in Shinee. That is a guy with the same name, but I think he is from Nu'est. Right?
You are right, sorry it's not one of the groups I follow. Thank you for the correction and I'll edit my comment. I just knew it wasn't Shinee's Jong-hyun.
South Korea needs to change their mindset towards mental health. Protect your people, destroy the stigma, change the education system, stop forcing workers to work extreme hours, that includes KPop stars. This is fucked up and was preventable. It just wasn’t prevented.
embmrose It will take some time but I hope that this unfortunate loss will make people realize that they really need to start making some changes. There are so many people dealing with mental health issues and the last thing they need is the stigma weighing them down more. We need to see more support in general.
Generic Male "a few weak individuals" dude South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world, second to them is Japan. It doesn't matter how great their technological advances are, if their country's foundation is cracking beneath them. It's only a matter of time before it breaks and all that technological advances will be meaningless. The fact that you see no problem with that just shows how pathetic of a individual you are.
Happy to see that people don’t have a fucked mindset about the world like Generic Male. The people making those advances should come first and be cared for. Not thrown to the side.
To those still mentioning the wrong image in the story about the unfortunate death of Jonghyun, Phil apologised and mentioned it in his new video already. May he rest in peace
Mizako 96 I posted this before the description was changed. I'm not gonna freak out about the wrong photo because that's the least of my worries. However I did write this right when it was uploaded so it was possible. Please be respectful and don't just tell someone to "get over it" even if I know you didn't mean his death.
People can lose their jobs in South Korea if they admit to or are discovered as having mental health issues. They're kinda fucked unless the nation's mentality changes.
Knapcova Silvia he’s in the dirt. No pain. Just nothing, that is were all this life ends. Doesn’t matter what you do in life, all ends up as meaningless nothingness. Unless of course there is some higher purpose beyond the material.
Matthew Clomo Can you let peiple grieve? We can all have our own beliefs and thoughts on death, whether or not you believe in an afterlife or nothingness or whatever else, but it's no reason to butt in on someone else's grieving process? Maybe you weren't trying to come off as rude, and you were genuinely just sharing thoughts, but just let people grieve. Death is hard, especially if you admired someone deeply.
Destiny Pierce well if there is nothing after this it’s kinda pointless. Thinking about this makes me so depressed. No I’m not trying to butt in or be rude. But seriously it’s RU-vid, it’s not wise to come on here to grieve. And no I’m not trying to troll. thanks for your thoughtful response. Hope you have a merry Christmas.
Not trying to be annoying but I do not like the idea of them “not being in pain anymore”. I have long wanted to prevent people from committing suicide and one step of that is to point out that suicide doesn’t feel good and it hurts those around you. Rather than death, to remove the pain you should find help from loved ones and any other way you can.
jonghyun is so important to me in every single way. shinee saved my life many years ago and have been one of the most important influences on me and everything i do. i even saw them last year live which was the most magical expereince. mental health is not treated properly in south korea AT ALL and its devastating that it has to come to an idol who creates beauty and saves lives to take his own life. ive been crying all day. (btw the photo you show at 0:36 is NOT jonghyun from shinee, it is a different kpop idol who is also named jonghyun from nuest).
naeri face we relate far more than you know. shinee has been with my through the darkest times of my life for the past seven years, i was blessed to see their 1 of 1 promotion concert this year. jonghyun, my ultimate bias all this time, has helped me the most during those tough times. It's so upsetting that he got to the point where he felt he could not go on anymore. I wish we could have done for him what he has done for us. So upsetting.
Heh not to be that person but there’s two Kim Jong-hyun, one of nuest, one of shinee. one of the pics you used wasn’t of shinees Kim Jong-hyun but it’s okay lol thank you for sharing this and letting people know. Wasn’t expecting you to do a story on this but it’s kinda comforting os thank u
The picture for Jonghyun in 0:12 is the wrong Jonghyun. The guy in the picture is N'uest Jonghyun. But anyways, I feel like part of the fault is of SM because they failed to provide him with the help he needed. Acoording to his letter, his doctor said something on the line of "Your personality is the problem" and that caused him to be increasingly stress in addition of the hate and the expectations from others. He worked hard, I wish him well.
You can't really blame SM when you don't know whether or not they tried to help. Unless family comes out and says its SM, we can't blame anything but his mental illness and the crazy doctor who blamed Jonghyun. We dont know who hired him whether SM, Jonghyun or his family
I too do think that sm could play a small part because it has been proven that the company doesn’t treat their idols that well, but at the end of the day we won’t know. According to his final words, it could’ve just been his lifestyle. He said that he felt like he just wasn’t cut out for that lifestyle. Which when he said that it kind of made me have that kind of mad and sad feeling because I wish I could just ask why couldn’t he just leave or take a big break😔 and have a get away. There have been idol that left to focus on their mental health so it kind makes me sad that he never thought of it maybe he has and just wasn’t allowed :(
+Bianca .G I don't think is companies fault..in the letter he did say he wasn't meant for the celebrity life.. I just wondered why he didn't quit, when he said he was tired of it all..I think he did stay in shinee for the people around him like his family and friends(shinee) to make others happy. ugh! I wish he would of run away.. But the letter was mean for the public, and he did say "you" so he was tired from the expectations from fans/public. B/c if there wasn't a demand there wouldn't be fame.
Wrong Kim Jonghyun in your photo display but your sentiments and kindness is appreciated. He was a deeply talented man who touched the hearts of millions. It's seriously heartbreaking. Sometimes we seek help only to have a negative experience. And I can't stress it enough.... If your doctor isn't helping you or you feel uncomfortable, don't quit or give up. Find that second third or fourth opinion. Keep trying because your mental health professional needs to fit with you.
Nathan yeah but I can't delete this now we've gone too far But as soon as someone else tells us again I'm gonna tag you lol so we can go through it together
g8.way.up I find that sad and ironic considering there is currently and entire army of white guys named Chris running Hollywood right now like how hard is it to distinguish between Asians? Come on now. Lol they'll figure it out one day
Guys, please, kpop is a world not everyone is well versed on and the fact that one picture of Kim Jonghyun from NU’EST showed up in the google image search for Kim Jonghyun from SHINEE isn’t Phil’s fault or him being disrespectful. It’s actually very touching for him to report this and keep the awareness of mental health going. It was a mistake, don’t be rude.
Silver Piper exactly! He did it with good intentions and that’s what matters. Plus he talked about the big suicide problem in SK and that’s very needed.
My sisters and I love Shinee and Jonghyun in general. We've been watching their music videos all day and my sisters haven't been able to stop crying. He left such a big impact on people. It's just sad that he was so depressed that he got to that point.
It's important to remember that all idols have idols of their own to help them through tough situations. You can only hope they have the foresight to see things will get better instead of unreasonably assuming the worst.
wrong pic in the beginning. The first one in blue is from a different band called nuest. but cheers to you phil for drawing attention to this issue shinee was one of my first obsessions
Tyler DeAsis He used the wrong picture? That's interesting because he also never mentioned the name of the boy group either, if you listen to him. I wonder if this story was rushed or something?
No matter how much you like it but kpop industry is fucked up...Yeah ok its good to have people who can sing & dance but seriously why does a person who wants to sing have to dance and a dancer have to sing?? Why do they have to be super skinny? Why can't they date? You all boast about how talented kpop stars are but at what stake? There must be tons of idols who must be suffering from depression, eating disorders n other mental illnesses but putting up a happy face. Things needs to change. But sadly even his death won't change anything. R.I.P ♥
Having chronic depression means this news hit me hard. I empathize with Jonghyun because I live in the same hellish reality. Mental health is so precious. If you are healthy rejoice, you are so lucky.
Saint Jude just because you don’t experience something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s been scientifically proven. Even if you think they’re lying about having it, you have no evidence and could be incredibly harming their mental state. Give the benefit of the doubt in these situations. At least try to find out if they were diagnosed by a mental health professional.
Kiz zie It's not just luck, it's a mixture of having good support and being able to take a break from stressful situations- I eventually stopped going to certain lessons and I got a worse grade in my final exam(s), but considering how stressed and depressed it was making me, I'm glad
Ian Jones as a fan of both shinee and phil no I won’t calm down it isn’t that hard to proof-check that you have the right photo considering he had multiple correct photos of jonghyun forgive me if I’m upset about an idol of mine passing I want him respected
naomi kelly So you're worried about a photo, but not the fact he covered the most important part of the story, which is that suicide is an epidemic in South Korea and that it needs to be addressed? You really have your priorities backwards.
Mizako 96 literally when did I say I don’t care about him covering the story you’re twisting my words to fit an agenda clearly I fucking care i’m just saying it isn’t hard to check a damn photo before releasing a video
Hey Phil.. the picture you had of jonghyun on the left @0:22 ... isn't the right jonghyun.. he's a dude in a group called NUEST whereas the Jonghyun that passed away (correct pic of him on the right) is from Shinee.. I'm sure people have messaged you about this already but .. yea idono in case you wanted to put it in the description or something cus having the wrong persons photo on such a sensitive matter can offend alot of people
Although I don't know much about Shinee or Kim Jong Hyun, I did dabble into K-pop in the past and watched some Korean variety shows and I remember seeing this guy and thinking how refreshing his personality was. He seemed like such a humble and nice guy, which I don't really see around where I live. Sad to see a guy like him go...
Koreans have a huge stigma against mental illnesses. There is also no patient confidentiality here so if one seeks help they will likely be fired from their job.
That's messed up. No one should have to deal with mental health issues by themselves let alone have to worry about their job and family situation if someone were to find out.
Thank you for talking about Jonghyun, Phil. It means a lot to us that covered it in an eloquent way and did your research. It’s still hard to believe that he’s gone, but today is slightly better than yesterday as we move forward and remember him for being Kim Jonghyun and not someone who died in the worst circumstances.
I have followed SHINee since their debut. Jonghyuns passing away has hit me extremely hard. This is one of the men behind my theme songs of almost every era of my life. I will miss him greatly.
Emily Fredrickson Now every time I listen to replay I burst out into tears. This used to be one of my favourite songs from them but now it’s my saddest.
Donald Thump Its a bit disrespectful his research team does not know how to differentiate between two korean men with the same name. What's the point of having a research team if they can't research the story correctly. That's what WE the viewer's are saying. Disrespectful to any decent person. What would you know (person with the username that goes by Donald T.), what else can the youtube community expect from your account, but stupid comments.
I still can't believe he's gone. Such a beautiful human being and the reason I got into kpop 6 years ago. You worked hard, our Jonghyunnie. #neverforget #rosesforjonghyun #kingjonghyun
Joe Black You have used that same joke on multiple comment threads. Get some better material before even considering sharing it with us. Save us having to read something so stale and unfunny. Good grief.
I'm just saying he used the wrong picture which can be seen as disrespectful. I'm trying to tell Phil he made a mistake. I'm not trying to take away from the importance of helping people wiht mental illness's along with kim Jonghyun's tragic death.
R.0. B. Well because one died and the other didn't... also out of respect get the right one, since both have the exact same name. Is just how people confuse black people with each other. Is a mistake and they need to fix it.
Phil you guys used the wrong pic in the beginning. That's not the right jonghyun. It's understandable bc there are a couple of kpop jonghyuns but just so you know...
I cried so much Idk I wasn't a proper fan but i don't understand why this hurts so much I can't watch their videos without crying now Rest in Peace Jonghyun
Going onto the Jonghyun story. I have been a massive kpop fan since around 2002. I watched Shinee debut and have seen them perform live quite a few times. I was absolutely heartbroken by this news today. From my knowledge of South Korea and their stigma of mental health, it is from my understanding that not only is it shamed for seeking professional help, but it also can go on your record so it is public knowledge. This impacts your career, which employment in Korea at the moment for people in their mid to late 20s is difficult to find. Adding on your background check that you are currently in counseling/on prescription pills to battle depression or anything messing with you mentally is seen as a very negative thing. I believe seeking help is the key, but I also feel like Korea needs to change their perceptions on mental health for their suicide rates to decrease. If anything, I hope this shines even more light on it. Also Phil, the Jonghyun at 00:11 in the blue shirt is not Shinee's Jonghyun. Just thought I would throw that out there. Thanks for covering this.
I listened to Kpop when I was younger, stopped a few years ago, mostly from growing out of it but also because the Korean entertainment system is just awful. They overwork them, you can see in their eyes sometimes how dead exhausted they are. There’s always stories of mistreatment and sometimes abuse, it’s just horrible. It absolutely broke my heart to hear about Jonghyun’s death. It hit one of my friends extremely hard, too. Unfortunately, as shitty as it is, I almost am not surprised anymore when a Korean idol commits suicide. The entertainment industry there needs some serious work, because it’s mostly just awful, and people there are worked to the bone and there physical and mental stability is often ignored. It’s just so horrible, and as heartbreaking as they are, I hope stories like this bring some light to it and provoke change.
Kirsten DeMille the really depressing thing is that companies who actually have the money to look after the idols they have *cough cough SM* don't use it for that instead they use it to debut like 15 different acts per year it's ridiculous
I've heard that Kpop is good but I can't support the savage capitalism going on in South Korea. I have friends from Seoul, who told me that they would rather die then live and work there. It's as if they see humans as products or commodities.
Thank you. I was going to comment the same thing. Maybe he made this video before Jonghyun's letter came out but he indeed was seeing a professional. Maybe the true take away here is that improvements need to be made in mental health care.
i just can’t believe he’s actually gone. no one saw this coming. no one had even thought this day was going to happen. i’m in so much pain thinking about him and what i probably could have done to help him. Kim Jonghyun, a star who has shined brightly on stage for 10 years, now a star of the skies.
BustySkinSack you are a disgusting human being how dare you make fun of not only suiced but of one of the best main vocalist in kpop history you are absolutely disgusting
I am glad you are covering Jonghyun’s death, as many people need to realize that celebrities are humans in general. They have mental problems and we need to stop treating them like gods and thinking that they are invulnerable to things that we are exposed to. Every celebrity is a human, they feel lonely and sad and take what comments say to heart. So I’m very sad that Jonghyun had to bring this to the forefront of everyone’s vision but I hope that this opens up a bigger discussion about mental health especially in Korea and that he is in a better place now. (Also that’s the wrong pic of Jonghyun, the one used was from Nuest not Shinee)
Phil acknowledged the mistake and apologized via Twitter and the video description. At the very least, at least the story was covered to raise awareness of the tragedy and mental illness as a whole
So is everything else you feel and do. Your brain is in your head. Your brain is where everything is happening, depression happiness sadness memories wtvr it is.
iiFallenWish Yes you are right, but I think what she means is that the doctor made him feel like his depression was his fault. like he was the cause of it. They made him feel guilty for something out of his control.
Chimgee Teecie the term "all in your head" I think refers to something not being true, and not about addressing chemical imbalances within the brain. It's an insensitive phrase.
K-POP fans, don’t you remember the first time you got into k-pop? It was a bit hard to learn their names and put name to face. Please just let this honest mistake go and focus on the message he took the opportunity to share.
That first photo you guys put up is actually a different Kim Jonghyun, not the one in SHINee edit: Thank you for addressing the mistake as well as mental health in general. It's heartbreaking that the love he received from so many people was overshadowed by the negativity. He was vocal about his depression and tried to raise awareness about mental health. Mental illness is so prevalent and it's incredibly disheartening that lives have to be taken away for people to come closer to the realization that we need to at least be open to discussing it. Jonghyun's music will live on forever. I hope he can finally rest in peace.
Shinee always had such a close bond. They were known for being inseparable. They've been best friends for over 10 years. The 4 other members are taking the role as chief mourners for his funeral, which in Korean tradition is apparently a huge role. It's usually done by the male lead of the family, but jonghyun isn't close with his father, so his members (pretty much his brothers) are taking the role. They have to be the first ones to arrive and the last to leave. They will be carrying his coffin. They need to bow all the way to the floor on their knees. Someone said that for their grandpas funeral, their knees were bleeding by the end, and that's not uncommon. They apparently aren't allowed to sit during the many hours of the funeral and can't really drink or eat. One of the members Minho fainted when he heard the news. Taemin was on the floor crying for hours. Key was in Portugal for a photo shoot when he found out and had to sit on a plane for hours knowing one of his best friends in the world is gone. As of yesterday onew, the oldest and leader of the group was the only one who was able to visit him. Shinee are a one of a kind group with a closer friendship and brotherhood than any other group I've ever seen. That's one of the many reasons this is so tragic.
Ara James (of course the fangirls liked this) I'm just saying it was mistake he made and he apologized. Yes I know it's sad but, at least you know he's talking about.
