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Jonghyun’s Recent Tattoo Will Make You Sad, But His Last Tattoo Will Make You Cry

Jonghyun’s Recent Tattoo Will Make You Sad, But His Last Tattoo Will Make You Cry

December 22, 2017
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The sudden passing of SHINee’s main vocalist, Kim Jonghyun, has brought more information about his battle with depression to light and allowed netizens to fully understand the pain and suffering he was struggling with.
via Instagram / finger_hearts
While Jonghyun had always been very open with his feelings — lovingly referred to as the “big dam” of SHINee because he was not shy about crying — fans didn’t realize the heavy significance of one of his tattoos and what he was trying to convey regarding his depression.
via YouTube / cherryzzi 별쫑
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Jonghyun had several tattoos, but after his death, fans realized the symbolism behind them carried much more weight than previously thought. One in particular, a black dog on the left side of his body, caught the attention of Shawols everywhere, as its true meaning came to light in the wake of his passing.
via Instagram / finger_hearts
“Achtung!! I have a black dog. If you touch, you’ll get bitten!” the tattoo reads. The black dog, now a symbol of depression, was first popularized by Winston Churchill, who said that his nanny used to refer to his dark moods as such. Although the phrase “black dog on my back” is more closely related to the colloquialism “woke up on the wrong side of the bed”, it has been romanticized by historians and authors to mean depression, even posthumously diagnosing Churchill with bipolar and other mental illnesses.
Jonghyun’s choice of tattoo indicates how his depression plagued him, which devastated fans to hear how much their beloved idol was suffering. Little did Shawols know of the heartbreak that awaited them, as Park Karo, Jonghyun’s tattoo artist, revealed his final tattoo design on Instagram:
We’ll see each other again, Jonghyun.
Featured Image via Instagram / (Left): nguyenlelinhtrang | (Center): finger_hearts / (Right): cherryzzi 별쫑
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      Heather Johnson Yu

      Heather Johnson Yu Born at a very young age; self-made thousandaire. Recommended by 4 out of 5 people that recommend things. Covered in cat hair. Probably the best sleeper in the world. Still haven't completed the civil war quest in Skyrim but I'm kind of okay with that. Too rad to be sad.

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