On Wednesday, Moonbin, a member of the K-pop band ASTRO, died at his home in Seoul. The band and its management agency confirmed the news in a statement in Korean posted to Twitter. However, no specific cause of death was mentioned.
Funeral and Call to Refrain from Speculation
In the statement, the agency urged fans to avoid spreading “speculative and malicious reports” to give Moonbin’s family space to grieve. To respect their wishes, the funeral will be held privately, with only family, friends, and colleagues attending.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Moonbin was found dead at his home in Gangnam, an upscale neighborhood in Seoul, by his manager on Wednesday evening. According to the Korean news agency Yonhap, the manager immediately contacted the Seoul Gangnam Police Station.
Moonbin’s Career and Achievements
Born on January 26, 1998, Moonbin was not just a singer but a versatile artist who also acted, danced, and modeled. He was part of ASTRO, a six-member male K-pop group, and Moonbin & Sanha. The group gained popularity in 2016 with their debut EP “Spring Up” and were named one of Billboard’s top 10 new K-pop groups that year.
Cancellation of Tour and Tributes
ASTRO announced the cancellation of the Moonbin & Sanha tour in Jakarta “due to unforeseen circumstances.” The news of Moonbin’s sudden death echoed throughout the K-pop world, and fans from different countries posted tributes to him on social media.
Cancellation and Postponement of Upcoming Events
Several K-pop groups in South Korea cancelled or postponed upcoming events on Thursday as a sign of respect for Moonbin. Among those who announced the cancellation of their events was Billlie, a girl group that includes Moonbin’s younger sister, Moon Sua.
Previous Deaths of K-pop Stars
Moonbin is the most recent of several Korean celebrities in their 20s to have died suddenly. In 2019, two other K-pop stars’ deaths caused South Korea to ponder over what had gone wrong in one of its most popular cultural exports. Earlier this month, South Korean actress Jung Chae-yull, aged 26, was also found dead in her home. While not all cases have been acknowledged as suicide, some have been.