K-Pop star Moon Bin was tragically found dead in his apartment aged only 25.
The breakout performer – whose manager found him dead at his home in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, YonHapNews Television reported – was part of the hugely successful group Astro.
And the talented star – who went by Moonbin – was not the only artist in the family, with his younger sister Moon Sua debuting with girl group Billie in 2021.
The heartbroken star, 23, has stayed quiet on social media, as her comments were flooded with messages of support.
Moonbin – was not the only artist in the family, with his younger sister Moon Sua debuting with girl group Billie in 2021. The brother and sister pictured last year
‘Stay strong we always support you and you not alone we always love you and stay with you,’ one fan wrote on her latest post.
‘We love you Moon Sua, stay strong please.❤️ Your parents and friends need you to be OK right now,’ another added.
Billie has cancelled all scheduled activities for this week, Scoompi reports, with a translation saying that the group’s agency Mystic Story asking for their fans’ ‘generous understanding’.
Here, FEMAIL takes a look at everything we know about Sua, her brother and what we can expect to happen over the next few weeks.
WHO IS MOON SUA?
Sua, who was born on September 9, 1999, is a rapper, singer, lyricist and MC for Billie. The group has seven members and debuted two years ago.
She and her brother were both born in the South Korean city Cheongju – the capital and largest city of the North Chungcheong Province.
Sua had initially started her career as young as 16, following in the footsteps of her brother.
Sua had initially started her career as young as 16, following in the footsteps of her brother. Pictured in 2020
Sua, who was born on September 9, 1999, is a rapper, singer, lyricist and MC for Billie. The group has seven members and debuted two years ago. Pictured in 2020
Sua has also since taken part in other singing competitions and music contests. Pictured with Moonbin last year
In 2015 she competed on the show Unpretty Rapstar 2 – which focuses on female performers – and finished as a runner up.
The following year, label YG Entertainment – which Sua was with from 2009 – announced their plans to debut the now infamous Blackpink, who recently performed at Coachella, and Sua was understood to be a likely consideration for the group.
In 2019, she left YG Entertainment as was later unveiled with Billie. They debuted in 2021, with The Billage of Perception: Chapter One.
Most recently they released their fourth EP, The Billage of Perception: Chapter Three.
Sua has also since taken part in other singing competitions and music contests.
WHO IS MOONBIN?
Born named Moon Bin, the K-Pop icon was part of the original lineup for Astro, debuting with five other singers in 2016.
The group’s hits included Candy Sugar Pop, All Night, Crazy Sexy Cool and Blue Flame.
Moonbin had started working as young as four years old, with modelling and acting gigs.
Born named Moon Bin, the K-Pop icon was part of the original lineup for Astro, debuting with five other singers in 2016. Pictured last year
The group’s hits included Candy Sugar Pop, All Night, Crazy Sexy Cool and Blue Flame. Pictured, Moonbin and bandmate Sanha
Moonbin and Sua both started their performing careers young. Moonbin became a trainee at Fantagio in the fifth grade
In 2009, he played a young version of Kim Bum’s character in the hit drama Boys over Flowers.
He became a trainee at Fantagio in the fifth grade. After debuting with Astro, he went on to do a number of acting projects – but in 2019 took a hiatus from band promotion work for ‘health reasons’.
This had only lasted a few months and Moonbin was back and working on multiple projects before long.
WHAT HAPPENED TO MOONBIN?
Moonbin tragically passed away on Wednesday, April 19 2023. He was found at approximately 8:10pm KST.
Astro’s record label Fantagio Music, in a statement that was also shared on the band’s Instagram, said: ‘On April 19th, Astro member Moonbin suddenly left us and became a star in the sky.
‘Although it cannot be compared to the grief of the bereaved families who lost their beloved sons and brothers, the Astro members who have been with us for a long time, as well as our Fantagio fellow artists and executives, are deeply mourning the deceased in great sadness and shock.
Moonbin tragically passed away on Wednesday, April 19 2023. He was found at approximately 8:10pm KST. Pictured last year
‘It is even more heartbreaking to deliver the sudden news to the fans who have supported Moonbin and sent him generous love.
‘I am more heartbroken because I know the heart of the deceased who always loved and thought of his fans more than anyone else.’
They added that the funeral would be held quietly with his friends, family and colleagues attending.
No cause of death was immediately given for Moonbin.
However, Yonhap News reported that Seoul Gangnam Police released a statement addressing the star’s cause of death.
In 2009, he played a young version of Kim Bum’s character in the hit drama Boys over Flowers. Pictured last year
Translated into English by Soompi, it reads: ‘It appears that Moonbin took his own life. We are currently discussing the possibility of an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death.’
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.
The suspected suicide occurred a month after K-pop star Sulli took her own life after a long struggle with online bullying, prompting demands in South Korea for stronger punishments for cybercrimes.
Sulli’s death echoed that of fellow K-pop star Jonghyun, who took his life in 2017 after battling depression.
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