"Members of Astro and fellow artists and staff
at Fantagio are deeply saddened and shocked as we mourn him,"
the label said in a statement.
Mooonbin was a child actor before making his debut as a member
of Astro in 2016. He was set to appear at a concert in the
southern city of Busan next month as part of sub-unit Moonbin &
Sanha.
Local media reported that the singer was found dead at his home
in the Gangnam district of Seoul and that suicide was suspected.
Police declined comment.
Suicide is among the leading causes of death for young people in
South Korea. The country has the highest suicide rate among the
OECD group of wealthy nations.
Following the news about the death of Moonbin, "all idols"
trended on Twitter in South Korea.
"I hope all idols can chase their dreams without feeling
heartbroken," read one tweet.
Moonbin’s death also became the most searched topic on China’s
Twitter-like social media platform Weibo on Thursday morning,
with many saying the news reminded them of the deaths of other
young South Korean popstars in the past.
In 2017, Kim Jong-hyun, the lead singer of top South Korean boy
band SHINee died in an apparent suicide aged 27.
(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Seoul and Shanghai bureau; Editing
by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
(Photo: A portrait of Moonbin, a member of South Korean boy band
Astro, is seen at a funeral home in Seoul, South Korea, April
20, 2023, in this still image taken from video. REUTERS/via
Reuters TV/Daewoung Kim)
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