Jonghyun: NBC apologises for confusing SHINee and BTS in Kim Jong-hyun tribute

Popular artist died this week

NBC 5 showed K Pop band BTS instead of SHINee and focused on band member RM, who they apparently believed was late singer Jonghyun (NBC)

NBC Chicago has issued an apology after it confused Jonghyun - the deceased member of popular K Pop band SHINee - with BTS' Kim Namjoon, also known as RM.

Jonghyun, full name Kim Jong-hyun, died earlier this week aged 27. He took his own life after struggling with depression.

A private funeral service was held on Thursday 21 December, where his sister led a procession that was also attended by his bandmates and other K Pop singers.

While reporting his death, NBC aired file footage of another popular K pop band as they discussed the news. They played clips of BTS performing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and repeatedly zoomed in on band member RM.

RM of K Pop band BTS, mistaken by NBC as the late singer Jonghyun (NBC)

Further confusion was caused when the reporter stated that SHINee had visited the AMAs in the US, when in fact it was, again, BTS who attended.

Upset fans took to social media to call on NBC to apologise. One wrote: "This is so disrespectful" while another said: 'If you guys weren't already informed NBC made a video claiming to be dedicated to the passing on Jonghyun but instead ignorantly put a video of BTS instead, making it look like it was Namjoon. Please speak up about this issue they owe Jonghyun a sincere apology."

NBC Chicago posted an apology on Twitter in response to the criticism, writing: "Yesterday, while reporting on the death of Kim Jong-Hyun, a member of the popular South Korean boy band SHINee, NBC 5 mistakenly aired video of the band BTS during our morning newscast. We sincerely apologise for this error."

Jonghyun was a founding member of SHINee when the band formed in 2008 and went onto become one of the most popular and enduring artists in K Pop, known particularly because he stood out from many of the mass-produced singers in the idol industry: writing, organising and composing music himself and developing his own signature style.

(Kim Jong-Hyun/Instagram)

The band recorded several albums in both Korean and Japanese, and in 2017 sold out the 55,000 capacity Tokyo Dome as part of their Japan tour. This year also marked the first time they toured North America.

SHINee posted an emotional tribute on their official Twitter account this week, writing: "Jonghyun, who loved music more than anyone... He will be remembered forever."

Anyone concerned about mental health or depression can contact Samaritans for confidential support in the UK on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org