South Korean pop star Moonbin has been found dead at his home in Seoul, his management agency announced on Thursday.
The 25-year-old was reportedly found by his manager who went to the singer’s home on Wednesday evening after not responding to calls.
According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, police are investigating his death but have so far found no signs of foul play.
Moonbin’s management agency, Fantagio, confirmed his death in a statement, saying: “On April 19, Astro member Moonbin suddenly left us and became a star in the sky.
“Although it cannot be compared to the grief of the bereaved family who lost their beloved son and brother, the Astro members, as well as our fellow Fantagio artists and executives, are deeply mourning the deceased in great sadness and shock.”
The statement said it was “even more painful to deliver the sudden news to the fans who have supported Moonbin and sent him generous love”.
It added: “We are more heartbroken because we know the heart of the deceased who always loved and thought of his fans more than anyone else.”
The agency asked fans to refrain from “speculative and malicious report” and to allow his grieving family privacy to mourn.
Moonbin’s funeral will be held “as quietly as possible”, it added, with family, friends and colleagues in attendance.
The star debuted in 2016 with the six-member boyband Astro, which was launched shortly after the singers appeared in a TV reality show.
The group quickly found success in South Korea and Japan and was listed on Billboard’s top ten list of new K-pop groups that year.
Moonbin also performed as a member of the duo Moonbin & Sanha, with the other half being fellow Astro member Yoon San-ha.
If you have been affected by any of these issues, you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
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