Pop singer Shin Hae-chul has died at the age of 46 after falling into a five-day coma for five days following surgery. 

The singer's agency KCA Entertainment announced that Shin died at 8:19 p.m. Monday at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul in the presence of his family. The agency said the medical team believed that hypoxic-ischemic brain damage caused the pop singer's death. 

Shin had been in critical condition since suffering a heart attack on October 22. After coming to the hospital's emergency room in a comatose state, he had emergency surgery but remained in a coma. 

A memorial altar for Shin was set up at the hospital on Tuesday.

The renowned singer debuted in 1988, winning the grand prize at a university music contest. Shin is considered to have led efforts to popularize rock music in South Korea.