Singer Kim Jong-hyun of popular K-pop group SHINee died on Monday in an apparent suicide. He was 28. 

Police said that Kim, widely known as Jonghyun, was found unconscious at a rented studio apartment in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, around 6:10 p.m. 

He was rushed to a nearby hospital in a state of cardiac arrest and received emergency CPR but failed to regain consciousness and was pronounced dead at 6:32 p.m. 

Police said they received a telephone call from his sister at 4:42 p.m. Monday, saying she thought her brother was committing suicide. 

The singer reportedly sent text messages to his sister with words such as "I had a hard time," "Let me go" and "last goodbye." 

Jonghyun was the lead singer of S.M. Entertainment’s five-member group SHINee, which debuted in 2008 with the EP “Replay.” 

He also made a solo debut with his first mini album "Base" in 2015 and released his second EP in April.

Police said Tuesday that no autopsy would be performed as it appears certain that the deceased took his own life and that his family does not want one.