Kim Jong-hyun (김종현; born April 8, 1990 in Seoul, South Korea, better known … Read Full Bio ↴Kim Jong-hyun (김종현; born April 8, 1990 in Seoul, South Korea, better known by the mononym Jonghyun, was a late South Korean singer, songwriter, and DJ. He was the main vocalist of the South Korean boy group SHINee, and had further participated in S.M. Entertainment's project group S.M. S.M. The Ballad. Jonghyun debuted as a solo artist on January 12, 2015 with his first EP, titled BASE. In the same year, on September 17, Jonghyun released a compilation album, 이야기 Op.1 (Story Op.1). On May 24, 2016, Jonghyun released his first studio album, 좋아 (She Is).

Jonghyun had been active in music since he was in junior high school. He was in a band called ZION and participated in many music festivals in his area. He was the band's bassist. During one of the band's show performance Jonghyun was scouted by SM Entertainment. Before his debut with SHINee, he sang a duet with Zhang Li Yin in the song “交错的爱 (Wrongly Given Love)” for her Chinese album.

Jonghyun was discovered at the 2005 S.M. Casting System. In 2008, he was chosen as a member of the group Shinee, the 5-member boy group debuted on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo.

In November 2010, it was revealed by SM Entertainment that Jonghyun, along with TRAX’s Jay, Super Junior’s Kyuhyun, and rookie singer, Jino, had formed a project group, S.M. The Ballad, under their label. The group focuses more on ballad rather than pop and R&B themes. The group released their debut album, "너무 그리워 (Miss You)", on November 29, 2010. They debuted on November 28, 2010 on SBS's Inkigayo with their lead single, "너무 그리워 (Miss You)". They also promoted another single from the album, "Hot Times (시험하지 말기)".

In February 4, 2014, SM Entertainment revealed that SM The Ballad will make a comeback with new members, Jonghyun being the only one from the original formation. It was later revealed that he would be singing, together with Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, the title track of the new album, "숨소리 (Breath)".

In October 2010, Jonghyun was one of twenty idols from various South Korean groups that recorded the song, "Let's Go," for the purpose of increasing public participation in the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit. He provided vocals along with label-mates Sungmin, Seohyun and Luna.

In the 4th mini album "Sherlock", Jonghyun had written the two songs "늘 그자리에 (Honesty)" and "알람시계 (Alarm Clock)". The song "Honesty" is written to give thanks to their fans who have stayed by their side with unchanging love until now. The other song, "Alarm Clock" which is also co-written with fellow member Minho, is about wishing to wake up from a nightmare of past break-up. He also wrote for multiple SHINee songs including "너와 나의 거리 (Selene 6.23)" (album "The Misconceptions of Us") and "상사병 (Symptoms)" (album "Everybody"). Jonghyun fully composed the collaboration track with IU, "Gloomy Clock" in IU's 3rd album "Modern Times". He also fully composed, wrote and lead the vocal direction for Son Dam Bi's digital single, "Red Candle". Not only did Jonghyun compose and write the song, he also took part in the vocal directing. The lyrics relate the characteristics of a candle to someone in love, who feels excited and nervous at the same time.

As a DJ for MBC FM4U's midnight radio show "Blue Night" Jonghyun has revealed his newly written songs on his radio show which he has prepared for a special corner called "Blue Night Lyrics, That Man's Composition". Back in June, DJ Jonghyun tweeted: “As I started Blue Night, I contemplated on how to incorporate myself well into the program… As expected, the conclusion is communicating with listeners and music! That’s why I have prepared a project where I personally write a song pertaining to a listener’s story and let you hear it. The name of the corner is ‘Blue Night Lyrics, That Man Composition’. It won’t be aired every week, but it will be aired once every few months as a special corner, so please send in a lot of stories. I’m accepting stories through the homepage.”

MBC FM4U have revealed starting from July 7th, they will be releasing the self-composed and self-written songs of Jonghyun. Furthermore it was stated that Jonghyun has written a total of 7 songs and that they will be revealed succession over several weeks.

I’m sorry
JongHyun Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

잠깐 기억 속에 우릴 바라봐
너와 나 우리 둘 좋은 기억 속
웃고 있어 울고 있어
참 많은 모습들 함께 있어
네겐 대체 어땠던 기억들이 남아있는지
정말 내가 그리 너에게 무심했던 건지
묻고 싶어 알고 싶어
정말 나만 좋은 추억으로 남았는지

항상 혼자인 기분이야 내게 말했던 그 얘기들
그저 투정이라 믿었었어 난
항상 나와 같은 마음이라 믿었어
너와 같은 길을 걷고
너와 같은 맘을 하고
내 착각 속에 내 머릿속에 행복한 니 모습은

Woo 내가 나빴었지 내가 못됐었지
끝까지 이기적인 방법으로 난
Woo 내가 못됐었지 넌 아직 힘들지
끝까지 나 혼자만 행복한 추억

가지 마 떠나지 마
잊혀진 기억 속에 넌
가지 마 제발 날 떠나지 마
알잖아 이대로 쓰러질 거야

Woo 넌 아직 힘들지 참 내가 못났지
미안 참 미안해
Woo 너 많이 힘들지 나만 괜찮은지
이리도 무책임한 사과할게

미안해 미안해
이제 난 괜찮아 미안해

미안해 정말 미안해
내가 미안해 미안해

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from JongHyun's song "I'm sorry." The song expresses a sense of regret and longing for a past relationship. In the first verse, the lyrics mention looking back at the good memories shared between the two individuals and the various emotions they experienced together. The singer wonders if the memories they had together still hold any significance for the other person and if they were indifferent towards them. They express a desire to ask and find out if they are only remembered as a source of good memories.

The second verse talks about the singer always feeling alone and how they believed that the other person felt the same way. They walked the same path, had the same mindset, and the singer's perception of the other person's happy appearance was only their own misconception. They acknowledge their own faults and selfish behavior, feeling guilty for being so self-centered throughout the relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

잠깐 기억 속에 우릴 바라봐
Take a moment to look back at us in our memories

너와 나 우리 둘 좋은 기억 속
You and I, both in the good memories

웃고 있어 울고 있어
Laughing and crying

참 많은 모습들 함께 있어
So many different appearances together

네겐 대체 어땠던 기억들이 남아있는지
I wonder how the memories of us remain in your mind

정말 내가 그리 너에게 무심했던 건지
Really, was I that indifferent to you?

묻고 싶어 알고 싶어
I want to ask and know

정말 나만 좋은 추억으로 남았는지
If I'm the only one left with good memories

항상 혼자인 기분이야 내게 말했던 그 얘기들
The stories you told me about always feeling alone

그저 투정이라 믿었었어 난
I simply believed it was just a complaint

항상 나와 같은 마음이라 믿었어
I believed you always had the same feelings as me