K-pop musician Shim Jaehyun has died. He was 23 years old.
News of the singer’s death began spreading on Sunday (June 29) through his friends and acquaintances, and was later acknowledged publicly by his former F.ABLE bandmates and other members of the K-pop industry.
Per a Billboard report, Jaehyun was battling leukemia at the time of his death – a condition he kept private. It is reported that his former bandmates were unaware of his leukemia battle until after his passing.
Jaehyun’s former bandmate Hojun later paid tribute in a now-expired Instagram post that include several pictures of them together: “Jaehyun, I heard the news too late… I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there for your last journey. I sometimes think about how I could have done better, and it’s regretful. I hope you can shake off all your worries and live comfortably there. Thank you for the past five years. I hope you’re eating lots of delicious food and doing well there. Come visit me in my dreams.”
The news was shared on his personal Instagram account and additionally confirmed by former groupmate Hojun. pic.twitter.com/uOV5Z2V1VK
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F.ABLE made their debut in 2020 under Haeirum Entertainment and dropped a handful of single before turning inactive.
While the group have yet to formally announce their disbandment, three of the group’s members went on to form a new band, ENPHAZE, leading fans to believe that they had quietly broken up. Jaehyun had retreated from the public eye during this time, according to All K-Pop.
Funeral and public memorial plans have yet to be announced.
