On May 22, a post was uploaded to second-hand marketplace Daangn offering a portrait of TV station Defconn drawn by Jonghyun. The artwork was reportedly created by Jonghyun himself during MBC Every1 Weekly idol in May 2012.
The seller listed the price at KRW 1.2 million. According to the seller, the portrait was received immediately after winning an event broadcast at the time. They pointed out that it is not a printed item but a one-of-a-kind drawing made by Jonghyun on paper, with his signature included.
The seller wrote: “There are wrinkles and defects. I will give it as is, inside the paper tube sent by the issuer.” They added, “It’s not a print. It’s a rare, one-of-a-kind item that Jonghyun drew on sketch paper and autographed.” The seller also noted that Jonghyun’s handwritten signature is clearly visible on the bottom of the artwork, although the paper has some creases due to age. They continued, “I would like to give it to someone who is not sensitive to flaws, fully understands its value and will treasure it as a collector’s item.”
The same seller also reportedly sells several albums containing Jonghyun’s handwritten signature. Recently, several celebrity artworks have appeared on Daangn. Webtoon artist Kian84’s painting Starry Cheongdam was also listed for KRW 190 million, sparking debate about reselling using celebrity fame. The seller then suspended the sale after controversy.
WINNER member Song Min-ho’s artwork Giraffe Painting I Drew 1, which was displayed at his 2022 solo exhibition Thanking You, was also listed for KRW 4,751,111.
Jonghyun’s portrait list has become particularly emotional because it is connected to a deceased artist deeply loved by fans. Although the seller described it as a rare collector’s item, the sale is likely to elicit mixed reactions over whether such a personal, signed item should be traded online.
Sources: Nate News
