Their tour, SHINee World the best 2018, started off in Japan on February 17 and 18. This concert marks the first time that SHINee is performing with one less member.
Key, Onew, Taemin, and Minho had all agreed to keep the tour dates that were announced before Jonghyun’s death in December.
All four of the SHINee members uploaded handwritten letters about Jonghyun‘s passing to their official Japanese website.
After a great deal of contemplation, the members have decided to proceed with their Japanese concert tour “SHINee WORLD THE BEST 2018 ~ FROM NOW ON”.
They carefully expressed their thoughts through letters written to fans.
“Hello, this is SHINee’s Onew.
I don’t know what to say first. I want to thank everyone who has supported our group constantly. I also want to apologize to our fans for making them worry as well.
I thought it was not possible. I thought we could not do the concerts. However, that’s when Jonghyun hyung’s mother said to never give up. She said that we are people who give hope to others, hope to people who are having trouble somewhere.
If I can give happiness, spread happiness, even if i’m a lacking individual… I decided that we had to do the concerts and I will work hard to do my best. I lack in a lot of ways but I will do everything I can within SHINee to show the best.
Even if the progress is hard, I will do my best to show you guys the best.
Jonghhyun will forever be a SHINee member in my heart and also in the fans’ hearts.
The fact that we will forever remember is something that will never change with me and you guys as well. I will work towards showing my best self in all SHINee’s future activities.
Thank you very much.”
— Onew
Handwritten letter by Onew.
2Key
“Hello, it’s SHINee Key.
Thanks to everyone who worried for me, I’m slowly trying to go back to my daily life.
There were times when I cried and my heart hurt because of all the memories I had with Jonghyun, but I want to try moving on by thinking he’s still with me.
I know everyone is hoping for SHINee to continue and I contemplated about it a lot. But I don’t think it’s right to wait until my heart is completely healed.
With everyone’s worries in mind, we have decided to proceed with our Japanese concert.
I’m sure Jonghyun would have wanted us to continue, and I think it’s important to keep our promise to our fans and put on a good performance.
This year marks our 10th anniversary since our debut.
Thank you for always supporting us and worrying about us.
We will pay you back with a stage fit for SHINee.
I love you and thank you.”
— Key
Handwritten letter by Key.
3Minho
“Hello this is SHINee’s Minho.
The members have thought long and hard individually on the topic of SHINee’s Japanese concert and we have come to a careful consensus.
I am writing this letter to deliver my thoughts carefully and calmly. Even as I am writing these words many feelings and thoughts cross my mind but I will attempt to deliver my feelings as carefully as possible.
I am sure there will be those who are happy with our decisions as well as those who worry for us. I do not know what the correct course of action truly is but I choose to believe what I am doing is right and plan to keep our promise to everyone.
I believe that the moments we shared with our fans and the staff are the most precious and happiest memories SHINee has and that it is simply irreplaceable.
Nothing can replace Jonghyun and we worry that our stage may not be complete without him but I believe he will be there with us whenever we stand on stage before all of you. And I will sincerely put all of my heart into preparing for our stage.
As Jonghyun and the rest of us have promised, we will remember that you were there for us whenever we felt weak and wanted to run away and we will continue to sing for you. The amount of pain we have to bear is more than anyone can imagine but I believe you will give us strength to work through this all.
We will be thankful for all of those moments and continue to perform for our fans and Jonghyun with all of our hearts. I think we will get through this cold winter thanks to the warmth of your support and cheer. Thank you.”
— Minho
Handwritten letter by Minho.
4Taemin
“Hello this is SHINee’s Taemin.
To be honest, I wasn’t confident about the concert at first. However, I wanted to keep the promises I made to our fans and I wanted to be with SHINee even in the far future.
I looked back at all the times where I was the happiest and most at peace. I realized those times were when I was with the members and the fans. This thought made me fall in love with SHINee and the members even more. So much so that I did not want to give it up.
I know what the future holds in store for us will not be easy. But I will do my best to make sure SHINee is not forgotten, that it shines that much more. The members and the fans have given me so many beautiful memories and I will be thankful in guarding those memories.
I want us to be loved as SHINee and I want to get up on that stage confidently to show Jonghyun who will be watching us from above.
I am sorry to have concerned all our fans. Please watch us carry on. Take care of yourselves in the cold and happy new year.”
The last time all 5 SHINee members performed on stage together was in August 2017. They performed a series of their greatest hits at the SMTOWN Live World Tour VI in Hong Kong
Jonghyun also shared a special speech that day saying how he was lacking energy from their busy schedules, but the sight of his fans made everything better.
“At first, I was worried that my concert schedule was too much, but I got so much energy from my fans throughout the concert that my health condition actually got much better. Because of my fans, I could finish up my performances better. Our SHINee World! I am proud.”
SM Entertainment has announced a change in the line-up for their upcoming “SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR III” in Tokyo.
On SM Entertainment’s official homepage in Japan, the agency confirmed that due to filming commitments on their respective films and dramas, Super Junior’s Siwon, f(x)’s Krystal and SHINee’s Minho won’t be able to perform for the two-day concert. The agency apologised to the fans who were looking forward to witness the three members in their respective groups.
SHINee’s Minho is currently busy filming for the drama “Medical Top Team” while f(x)’s Krystal is filming for “The Heirs.” Super Junior’s Siwon, on the other hand, is filming for the Chinese action thriller “Helios” in Hong Kong.
SM Entertainment will bringing “SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR III in TOKYO SPECIAL EDITION” at the Tokyo Dome, Japan on October 26th and 27th.
SHINee) is a South Korean boy group formed by SM Entertainment in 2008. The group consists of Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho, andTaemin. They made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS‘s Inkigayo with their single, “Replay” (Korean: 누난 너무 예뻐 (Replay)).
According to Koreaboo, SHINee will be releasing their next Japanese single “1000-nen, Zutto Soba ni Ite…” December 12, 2012.
It will be their 6th single release since their Japanese debut with “Replay” last year.
