K-pop star Moonbin from boy band Astro dead at 25 from apparent suicide

SEOUL – K-pop star Moonbin, a member of boy band Astro, has died, his music label and South Korean police said on Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans.

The 25-year-old singer was found dead at his home in southern Seoul late on Wednesday, a spokesman for the National Police Agency told AFP, adding that there was no evidence of foul play.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, citing an unnamed police official, reported that the authorities believe his death was a case of apparent suicide.

Moonbin’s label Fantagio Music also released a statement on Thursday confirming his death, but without disclosing the cause. “On April 19, Astro member Moon Bin unexpectedly left our world and became a star in the sky,” it said on Twitter.

It asked that everyone “refrain from speculative and malicious reports” so that his family can pay their respects and honour him in peace.

The label’s announcement prompted thousands of comments from grieving fans, many expressing disbelief.

“Rest in peace, Moonbin. I hope the stars and the moon treat you well. I hope they give you all the comfort and love,” one wrote on Twitter.

“I can’t focus on work now. This really hurts,” wrote another.

Moon Bin – who performed as Moonbin – was also in an Astro sub-group called Moonbin & Sanha.

He joined Fantagio’s trainee programme at an early age and was an actor and child model before debuting with Astro in February 2016.

Prior to his passing, Moonbin & Sanha had been set to perform at the upcoming Dream Concert – one of the largest K-pop joint concerts in South Korea – in May.

The group had also been in the middle of their Diffusion Fan Con Tour across Asia, and had launched an official fan community page on Weverse – the global fandom platform from K-pop megastars BTS’ agency Hybe – on Sunday.

“While no passing from any artiste is ever to be expected, Moonbin’s untimely passing was all the more shocking given how active the young star was, even the week of his death,” Mr Jeff Benjamin, Billboard’s K-pop columnist, told AFP.

“No one around him saw this coming, but what we can keep is his undeniable smile,” he added. “I’ve seen its brightness compared to the Cheshire Cat’s from Alice In Wonderland, and the wonderful music and performances he gave us.”

Cut-throat business

Beneath the glitz and glamour, the K-pop industry is also known for its cut-throat competition, a lack of privacy, online bullying and relentless public pressure to maintain a wholesome image at all times and at any cost.

Several young K-pop stars have died in recent years, including Goo Hara in November 2019. She had been abused by an ex-boyfriend who, after they split, blackmailed her over their sex videos. 

The suspected suicide occurred a month after her close friend, K-pop star Sulli, took her life after a long struggle with online bullying, prompting demands in South Korea for stronger punishments for cybercrimes.

Sulli’s death echoed that of boy band Shinee’s lead singer Jonghyun, who died in December 2017 after battling depression. He was 27.

“It’s always the people who smile the most who suffer the greatest,” one of Moonbin’s fans wrote. “When the sky shines beautifully, we’ll think of you, and when the stars shine bright, we will think of you.” 

K-pop groups halt activities

Meanwhile, several K-pop acts have halted or suspended their activities scheduled for this week in the wake of Moonbin’s death, like K-pop girl group Billlie, announced their agency Mystic Story on Thursday.

South Korean rapper Moon Sua, one of the members of Billlie, is the younger sister of Moonbin. She is listed as the chief mourner during the period of his wake along with her other family members, according to K-pop media outlet Allkpop.

Astro’s agency Fantagio said that members Jinjin and Sanha have been to the wake, while another member MJ, who is serving in the military, has taken emergency leave to do so.

South Korean singer-actor Cha Eun-woo, also a member of Astro, is returning from the United States to attend the wake, while Rocky, who left the group in February, had reportedly turned up as well.

South Korean singer-actress IU has requested a media interview on her upcoming film Dream to be published at a later date, while K-pop girl group Le Sserafim cancelled their photocall before their scheduled recording for TV programme Knowing Bros. 

Boy band iKon have postponed the preview of their upcoming album Take Off from Thursday to Friday, and K-pop boy band Got7’s Youngjae axed the airing of his radio programme Close Friend on Thursday. AFP