Heartbreaking news: Moonbin, the 25 year-old singer, dancer, actor, and member of K-pop group Astro, reportedly passed away on Apr. 19 in his home in Gangnam, Seoul.
His music label Fantagio broke the news early today, saying that he “unexpectedly left our world and became a star in the sky.” The label also urged everyone to refrain from making “speculative and malicious reports” to allow his family to grieve.
Moonbin’s younger sister, Moon Sua, is also a K-pop idol and member of the group Billie. Her label Mystic Story announced that the group’s activities will be canceled this week in respect to her loss. The two had been especially close, only being a year apart. They had both entered the industry at a young age, with Moonbin starting out as a child model and Sua appearing in GD & TOP’s “Knock Out” at 12.
In multiple interviews, Sua described her brother as her role model and someone she leans on to. In one segment on the show DNA Mate, which focuses on celebrity siblings, she tells Moonbin that she calls him when she feels the pressure of being the leader of her group and when he doesn’t answer, she “has no one to let myself out.” She tearfully added, “Just by you answering the call, I feel like there is someone by my side.”
Fans have noted that his unexpected and untimely death also hits painfully because he grew up in the public eye, with him appearing in TVXQ’s “Balloons” at eight years old and “Boys Over Flowers” as 11. It meant that they were able to see his growth as a person as well, not just as an idol. Many also likened his death to other deceased K-pop stars who tragically passed at a young age like Sulli and Jonghyun, and reminded people to look after your friends and loved ones who may be hurting without outwardly showing it.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family. May he rest in peace.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Center for Mental Health hotline at 0917-899-USAP (8727); (02) 7-989-USAP; or 1553 (landline to landline, toll-free).
Photo courtesy of Moonbin’s Instagram account
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