Hi, I'm a journalist based in Seoul and an editor for Korea Exposé, an independent media outlet specializing in news and analysis about the Korean Peninsula.
We've been deeply affected by his death, and have spent the past two days mourning, and also thinking about what we can do as journalists.
We've written a piece on the ethics of reporting tragedies in Korea: We Need to Talk About Suicide Reporting.
I was a big fan, so felt compelled to write the following: Obituary: The Legacy of Jonghyun.
Here, I'll try answer your question succinctly.
Media Coverage.
South Korea has a bad track record with reporting deaths of celebrities.
Over the past decade, many deaths have been extensively publicized.
With Jonghyun's death, it's not hard to find reports describing the circumstances and methods of his death; many have published his entire suicide letter; headlines list the glittering stars visiting his wake.
I would argue that these reports do more harm than good, as they veer towards sensationalist reporting.
Debates have been ongoing for decades about how journalists should report appropriately on suicides — especially those of celebrities, because the potential risks of reporting them are presumed to be greater.
Fortunately, this time around, most major publications — including those of differing political orientations — haven't featured Jonghyun's story prominently on their websites.
Different outlets are critiquing inappropriate media reports sensationalizing the death.
Change for the better, certainly.
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