South Korean singer-songwriter Kim Jong-hyun (most often credited as Jonghyun) has written 80 songs, including music for his solo career, his band, and for other artists. He began his musical career in 2008 as a member of the boy band Shinee and later formed the ballad group SM the Ballad. Jonghyun made his debut as a songwriter with Shinee's 2009 single "Juliette", which was featured on the extended play Romeo. He was inspired by the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, stating that he deliberately chose "a story which everyone can identify with". He began making frequent contributions to Shinee's musical output thereafter. Most notably, in 2015, he penned the lyrics to "View", the lead single from Shinee's fourth studio album, Odd. The song peaked at number one on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart and received nominations from the Mnet Asian Music Awards and the Golden Disc Awards. Jonghyun garnered acclaim for the lyrics, which were inspired by synesthesia.

In February 2014, Jonghyun started a songwriting corner titled "The Man Who Composes" on his MBC FM4U midnight radio show, Blue Night, where he wrote songs based on stories submitted by listeners. In 2015, he debuted as a solo artist with the release of the self-composed song "Déjà-Boo", accompanied by his first extended play, Base. Jonghyun was credited on every song on the EP, which reached number one on the Gaon Album Chart and Billboard World Albums and won an Album Bonsang at the Golden Disc Awards. Later that year, he released his first compilation album, Story Op.1, consisting entirely of songs he had previously written for his radio show. This was followed by his first studio album, She Is (2016), and second compilation album, Story Op.2 (2017). Jonghyun described the Story Op albums as showcasing a side that is "more ordinary and human", as opposed to his other work that presents an "idealized" version of himself. His final album, Poet Artist (2018), was released posthumously following his suicide on December 18, 2017. His solo music is largely co-written with his composition team, WeFreaky.

In addition to his solo career and his work with Shinee, Jonghyun has written several songs for other artists. In 2013, Jonghyun wrote "A Gloomy Clock"; the song was gifted to his friend IU after she expressed interest in it. It was included on her album, Modern Times, with Jonghyun as a featured artist. Jonghyun wrote songs for bandmate Taemin and labelmates Exo, as well as artists such as Son Dam-bi and Lim Kim. He was invited by Epik High rapper Tablo to write a song for Lee Hi's 2016 album Seoulite. The resulting single, "Breathe", was inspired by Lee's difficulties with breathing due to panic disorder.

Jonghyun became active as a songwriter at a time when it was uncommon for idols to do so. He has been lauded as one of the few idols to differentiate himself from the "mass-produced" nature of the K-pop industry, owing to his artistry and songwriting prowess.

Songs

+ Key Indicates single release

+ Name of song, featured performers, writer(s), original release, and year of release Song Artist(s) Writer(s) Album Year "02:34" Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "1000" Jonghyun Story Op.2 2015 "A Gloomy Clock"() IU Jonghyun Modern Times 2013 "Aewol"() Jonghyun Monthly Live Connection 2015 "Alarm Clock"() Shinee Sherlock 2012 "Already"() Taemin Press It 2016 "Aurora" Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Beautiful Tonight"() Jonghyun Base 2015 "Before Our Spring" () Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "Better Off"() Shinee The Misconceptions of Us 2013 "Blinking Game"() Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "Breathe" () Lee Hi Seoulite 2016 "Breathe" (Japanese version) Lee Hi Lee Hi Japan Debut Album 2018 "Chocolate" Shinee Married to the Music 2015 "Cocktail" Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Crazy (Guilty Pleasure)" Jonghyun Base 2015 "Dangerous (Medusa II)" Shinee Why So Serious? – The Misconceptions of Me 2013 "Déjà-Boo" () Jonghyun Base 2015 "Diphylleia Grayi"() Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "Don't Stop" Shinee 1 of 1 2016 "Dress Up" Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Elevator"() Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "End of a Day" () Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "Fine"() Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "Fireplace"() Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "Fortune Cookie"() Jonghyun Base 2015 "Grease"() Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "Hallelujah"() Jonghyun Base 2015 "Happy Birthday" Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "#Hashtag"() Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "Honesty"() Shinee Sherlock 2012 "I'm So Curious"() Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "I'm Sorry"() Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "Inspiration" Jonghyun SM Station Season 1 2016 "It Must Be Autumn"() Jonghyun Monthly Live Connection 2015 "Juliette" Shinee Romeo 2009 "Just Chill"() Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "Kkaman Bam Pureun Bam"() Jonghyun 2014 "Let Me Out"() Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "Like You" Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "Lonely" Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "Love Belt" Jonghyun Base 2015 "Love Is" Jonghyun 2014 "Love is So Nice" Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "Maybe Tomorrow"() Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "Mono-Drama"() Jonghyun Base 2015 "Moon" Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Neon" Jonghyun Base 2015 "No More" Lim Kim Simple Mind 2015 "Obsession"() Shinee Lucifer 2010 "Odd Eye" Shinee Odd 2015 "Oneulgwa Naeil"() Jonghyun 2014 "Only One You Need"() Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "Orbit"() Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Orgel"() Shinee Why So Serious? – The Misconceptions of Me 2013 "Our Season"() Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "Playboy" Exo Exodus 2015 "Poet Artist" Shinee Poet Artist 2025 "Pretty Boy" Taemin Ace 2014 "Prism" Shinee 1 of 1 2016 "Red Candle" Son Dam-bi 2013 "Red" Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Rewind" Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "Selene 6.23"() Shinee The Misconceptions of Us 2013 "Sentimental" Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "She Is" () Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Shinin'" () Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "Shout Out"() Shinee Lucifer 2010 "Sightseeing"() Jonghyun Poet Artist 2018 "Spoiler" Shinee Dream Girl – The Misconceptions of You 2013 "Suit Up" Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Symptoms"() Shinee Everybody 2013 "U & I" Jonghyun Story Op.1 2015 "Up & Down" Shinee Lucifer 2010 "View" Shinee Odd 2015 "Where Are You"() Jonghyun Story Op.2 2017 "White T-Shirt" Jonghyun She Is 2016 "Young and Rich" Jonghyun "Your Voice" () Jonghyun SM Station Season 1 2016

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