The beloved Korean-Pop artist Moonbin, who was a member of the boy band Astro, has died aged 25, according to his record label Fantagio.
The label said on April 19: “Members of Astro and fellow artists and staff at Fantagio are deeply saddened and shocked as we mourn him.”
Local media in South Korea reported that the singer was found dead at his home in the Gangnam district of Seoul. “He appears to have taken his own life but an autopsy is being reviewed to determine the exact cause of death,” the BBC quoted police as saying.
Following his passing, here is a look at Moonbin’s life story.
Who was Moon Bin?
Moon Bin, whose professional name was spelt Moonbin, was a South Korean musician, actor, dancer, and model.
He was born in the Cheongju region of the Chungbuk Province in 1998.
The star was a child model and actor in his early years, appearing in music videos and Korean dramas between 2004 and 2016.
He met the members of Astro when the group co-starred in the web drama To Be Continued.
Then, in February 2016, they revealed that they would become a six-member boy group by releasing their debut extended play record Spring Up.
He continued to nurture his acting career alongside his newfound success in music, appearing in the TV shows The Ultimate Watchlist of Latest Trends and Moment of Eighteen.
In November 2019, Moonbin’s label said he would take a break and miss the boy band’s upcoming promotions due to health issues.
In 2020, he returned as the new host of a Korean music show, the lead character in a web drama, and one of the faces of the brand Nerdy Cafe.
The same year, he and his bandmate Sanha created Astro’s first sub-unit, named Moonbin & Sanha, and released their debut EP and a lead single.
The years that followed were full of success. Moonbin appeared on the second season of Saturday Night Live Korea and promoted bag design brand Neikidnis.
Days before his passing, it was announced that Moonbin would perform at the Dream Concert in Busan. This is one of South Korea’s largest K-pop concerts, which is held annually on May 27.
