The release date of the album, which is supposed to due out on December 21, has been pushed back to December 26.
- Dec 20, 2017
AceShowbiz - SM Entertainment artists are currently taking a break from their schedules in order to pay respects and mourn Jonghyun, the lead vocalist of SHINee who died of possible suicide. Among them is EXO, who announced on December 19 that they would push back the release date of the group's upcoming Christmas album "Universe", which was supposed to be released on December 21.
The announcement was made on the group's official website. It read, "We're making an announcement to the fans who have been waiting for EXO's 2017 special winter album. EXO's 2017 winter special album 'Universe' release date has been changed to December 26. We ask for your understanding. Thank you."
Other K-pop artists who have decided to postpone their activities include Twice, Seventeen and BTOB. Twice announced that they would delay the release of music video for "Merry & Happy", which was initially set to be released on December 21, to Friday, December 22 after receiving requests from fans.
Meanwhile, Seventeen canceled the latest episode of their weekly YouTube series "Going Seventeen". Their label, Pledis Entertainment, announced that the show would take a week break in order to pay respect to the late singer. BTOB also announced that they had canceled the press conference for their "2017 BTOB Time Our" concert, which was supposed to take place on Saturday, December 23.
Jonghyun was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a residential hotel. The SHINee member was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead. He was 27. Police believe he died from inhaling toxic fumes as they found coal briquettes burnt on a frying pan. His funeral will be held privately on December 21 at an undisclosed location. The rest of SHINee members will be the head mourners alongside his family, who has decided not to perform autopsy.
