K-pop singer Moonbin, member of boy band Astro, dies aged 25

[April 20, 2023]  SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean singer Moonbin, a member of K-pop boy band Astro, has died at the age of 25, his music label Fantagio said on Thursday. 

"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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