Content Warning: article contains mention of suicide

K-pop group ASTRO member Moonbin has passed away according to reports from Korean news sites.

As reported by Yonhap News as translated by Koreaboo, the singer was supposedly found lifeless in his home in Gangnam at 8:10 pm on April 19. The report further stated that the Seoul Gangnam Police Station reportedly said that the body was found by his manager who called the police upon arriving at the singer’s home.

The report added that the police believe that the singer took his own life. An investigation into the incident has been launched.

The singer’s death was confirmed by his agency Fantagio in a tweet posted on ASTRO’s official account.

As translated by user @ChaDongWoo30 on Twitter, the post also stated how they were mourning the loss of Moonbin.

“It is incomparable to the sorrow of the bereaved families who left their beloved sons and brothers, but all Astro members, fellow artists and executives and employees of Fantagio are deeply mourning the deceased in such great sadness and shock.”

They also noted how much the singer cared for their fans. “It is all the more heartbreaking to tell you the sudden news to the fans who supported Moon Bin and gave him generous love. It is more heartbreaking because I know the heart of the deceased who always loved and thought of the fans more than anyone else.”

Fantagio also called on people to refrain from speculating about the incident especially as friends and family deal with their grief. “I sincerely ask you to refrain from speculative reports and malicious reports so that the bereaved families, who are deeply saddened by the sudden sad news, can reverently commemorate and greet the deceased.”

Moon Bin (with his professional name stylized as Moonbin) debuted as part of the six-member group ASTRO in 2016 with the extended play, Spring Up. Group member Rocky would eventually leave ASTRO when his contract with their agency Fantagio expired in February 2023. Moonbin himself renewed his contract with the agency in December 2022.

Moonbin also dabbled in acting, with roles as the young version of Kim Bum’s character So Yi-jeong in Boys Over Flowers in 2009 and as main character Choi Woo Hyuk in the web series The Mermaid Prince in 2020.

As part of ASTRO sub-unit Moonbin and Sanha, the singer visited the country for their Moonbin & Sanha Fan Con Tour: Diffusion in Manila fan meet last March 25. The pair delighted the crowd as they did the Ting Ting Tang Tang challenge and danced to News Jeans’ “OMG” and BLACKPINK’s “Pink Venom” as part of the games.

Moonbin also expressed how he wanted to perform for Filo Arohas during the fan meet. “Since the Philippines is known for beautiful places, I would like to visit Boracay. But I also think that rather than coming here as a vacation, I would love to come here to perform for all of you,” he stated.

Moonbin and Sanha also hinted that the group members will be doing solo projects in an interview with ABS-CBN News. The duo also expressed how happy they were to be back in the Philippines.

“2016 we came as a group, as ASTRO. We were able to come here. Even though we are just two, two of the members, we are very thankful and grateful for the passionate cheering and welcoming of the Filipino Arohas,” Moonbin said.

Moonbin was 25 years old.

*If you or a loved one is in need of help, contact the National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline at 1553 Luzon-wide landline toll-free. For Globe/TM subscribers, call, 0966 351 4518 or 0917 899 8727 (USAP). For Smart/Sun/ TNT subscribers, call 0908 639 2672. You may contact their Facebook page at ncmhcrisishotline and on Twitter @ncmhhotline.