ASTRO Moonbin was found dead at his residence in Gangnam District, Seoul, by his manager. He was 25.
Local news outlets, including Yonhap News TV, first reported the shocking news.
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ASTRO Moonbin Dead at 25
The Seoul Gangnam Police Station confirmed in a statement that the idol — who was a member of the K-pop boy group ASTRO and its sub-unit Moonbin & Sanha — was found dead by ASTRO’s manager on Wednesday around 8:10 p.m.
The manager told the police he went to his house after not being able to call him.
Investigations remain underway, but the authorities are not looking into the possibility that he died by suicide. They will reportedly perform an autopsy to determine ASTRO Moonbin’s cause of death.
Following the reports, ASTRO and Moonbin’s agency, Fantagio, released a statement confirming the idol’s death.
“Although it cannot compare to the grief of the bereaved family that had to part with their beloved son and brother, his fellow artists and the staff here at Fantagio, who have been together with him for a long time, are also deeply mourning the departed amidst tremendous shock and sorrow,” the statement read.
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The agency also asked the public to refrain from speculative or malicious reports as Moonbin’s bereaved family and loved ones mourn the loss.
Korea JoongAng Daily said Moonbin’s funeral has since been set up at Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Fantagio added that it would be held as quietly as possible with only his family, friends, and colleagues in attendance.
If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191. The Seoul Global Center offers English-language counseling. Contact 02-2075-4180 to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org and SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
Click here for a list of international hotlines you can call, and if you can’t find your country listed, please call your local emergency number.
ASTRO Moonbin Scheduled To Appear in Different Shows
Prior to his death, Moonbin already had a full-packed schedule with Sanha.
Following the success of his tour with his ASTRO co-member, the duo added new South American stops to its Diffusion tour. The trek started on March 18 and 19 at the KBS Arena, Gangseo District, western Seoul.
The subunit, which debuted in 2020, had since performed in Manila and Bangkok, and was scheduled to perform in Macau on April 22.
Fantagio has not released an announcement regarding the duo’s schedule.
Moonbin & Sanha were also tapped to appear at the 29th Dream Concert. The Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association (KEPA) confirmed on Wednesday that the late idol would be part of the lineup alongside ITZY, Nmixx, Dreamcatcher, and Kim Jae Hwan.
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