The Reason SHINee Jonghyun's Sister, Who Had Been Keeping a Low Profile, Revealed Her Face: "I Hope We Overcome This Together"

Foundation 'Bitina' Launches Psychological Counseling Project

Kim So-dam, the late Jonghyun (Kim Jong-hyun) of the group SHINee's biological older sister, appeared in front of the camera for the first time. Kim So-dam is the secretary general of the foundation 'Bitnara' for young cultural artists.

Kim Sodam, the late Jonghyun's older sister.
[Photo by YouTube capture]

On the 6th, the official SNS of the foundation Bitnara featured a video introducing the 'Youth Believe UP' psychological counseling project of the foundation, in which Kim So-dam appeared on screen. In this video, Kim So-dam said, "I am Kim So-dam, the secretary general of the foundation Bitnara and Jonghyun's older sister. This is my first formal greeting in front of the camera."

She continued, "I feel like I have been hiding all this time and couldn't come to the surface. Now, I am starting to find a way to share my inner stories, so I began this."

Kim said, "I think there are stories you wanted to tell but couldn't, and stories you agonize over alone," adding, "The hardship of being alone does not have to end alone; there must be ways to overcome it." Finally, she added, "I hope we don't stay trapped in that time but come out together and create a time to overcome it."

Poster of the 4th Bitina Art Festival held in May last year.
[Photo by Bitina Foundation]

The foundation Bitnara is an organization that carries on the will of SHINee's Jonghyun. It is a nonprofit public corporation established in 2018 by Jonghyun's family after his passing in December 2017. The name comes from the title track "Bit-i Na" (Shining) of Jonghyun's posthumous album. His mother, Lee Eun-kyung, serves as the chairperson, and his sister Kim So-dam is the secretary general. The foundation operates with appearance fees donated by the family, Jonghyun's copyright income, and donations, supporting young and adolescent cultural artists who work without an agency.

Last October, Bitnara held street performances where young cultural artists met citizens. It was a performance introducing hidden gem adolescent and young independent artists supported by the foundation Bitnara.