K-pop singer Jonghyun of SHINee has died aged 27 (Picture: Imaginechina/REX/Shutterstock)

NBC has admitted wrongdoing after mixing up members of K-pop bands in news coverage this week.

Korean pop band SHINee has lost a member, Jonghyun, to suicide and the news station had been covering the tragedy when they mixed up musicians.

NBC had displayed an image of Kim Nanjoon (also known as RM), from pop group BTS, rather than the correct image of Jonghyun, from SHINee.

NBC Chicago said in a statement on Twitter: ‘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.’


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 apologize for this error. pic.twitter.com/b4ciVSLDlL — NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) December 20, 2017

NBC had aired footage of BTS from their performance on the Ellen DeGeneres show, and annoyed fans by repeatedly showing close ups of RM.

It doesn't take 1 minute to search who actually died. Not only NBC Chicago disrespected Jonghyun's death… He disrespected Namjoon, ARMYs and Shawols… You should be ashamed of yourself! ??#NBCChicagoApologize — LJulianne (@leslie_julianne) December 20, 2017

NBC is one of the most top rated and watched news show. To dishonor Jonghyun by mistaking him as RM shows that NBC doesn’t care enough about this tragedy to accurately report the news. They made a mistake that could have been prevented with a bit of research. #NBCChicagoApologize pic.twitter.com/F9JDFKDBLo — rest in peace jonghyun (@taedreamy) December 20, 2017

cannot believe the level of ignorance from nbc to post such a misleading and hurtful video, I’m so incredibly upset at how disrespectful the media can be to get views. nbc need to apologise publically both to jonghyun and namjoon, simply taking the video down will not cut it. — lai (@jeonelysium) December 20, 2017

I don't think nbc Chicago cared about the death of jonghyun too much or else they would've done their research a bit more — ''''not my thrussy'''' (@petitepristii) December 20, 2017

Jonghyun took his own life after struggling with depression, and a private funeral has already been undertaken.



SHINee formed in 2008 and Jonghyun was a founding member, known for his individualistic style which defied the mass produced music of some of his K-pop contemporaries.

Jonghyun wrote and composed his own music, rather than using the music of ghost producers.

Key and Jonghyun of South Korean boy band SHINee performing (Picture: WireImage)

The group posted an emotional tweet following his death which read: ‘Jonghyun, who loved music more than anyone, who enjoyed the stage, who communicated with fans through music, the best artist.

‘Forever, he will be remembered.’

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MORE: SM Entertainment thanks fans in emotional statement after Jonghyun’s funeral

MORE: SHINee’s Key posts heartbreaking farewell letter to Jonghyun following funeral