# Moonbin
**Moonbin** (문빈; born Moon Bin, 1998 – April 19, 2023) was a singer, dancer, and actor from South Korea, most recognized for being part of the boy band ASTRO as well as the group's first sub-unit, Moonbin & Sanha.[1](https://kpopping.com/profiles/idol/Moonbin) He died at his home in the Gangnam district of Seoul on April 19, 2023, at the age of 25.[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/12020894)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Moon Bin, 1998, Cheongju, North Chungbuk Province, South Korea[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) |
| Died | April 19, 2023, at his home in Gangnam, Seoul, aged 25[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/12020894) |
| Debut | February 23, 2016, with ASTRO's EP *Spring Up*[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/moonbin-astro-legacy/) |
| Positions in ASTRO | Main dancer and lead vocalist[1](https://kpopping.com/profiles/idol/Moonbin) |
| Sub-unit | Moonbin & Sanha, formed in 2020 with bandmate Yoon San-ha, ASTRO's first sub-unit[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) |
| Acting | Child roles in TVXQ's "Balloons" video (2006) and *Boys Over Flowers* (2009); later *Moment of Eighteen*, *Sweet Revenge*, and *The Mermaid Prince*[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/moonbin-astro-legacy/) • [5](https://www.legacy.com/news/moonbin-1998-2023-singer-with-k-pop-group-astro) |
| Family | Older brother of Moon Sua, a member of the girl group Billlie[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) |
## Early career as a child performer
Moonbin entered entertainment before his idol training, working as a child model and actor. His first known onscreen appearance was as a younger version of TVXQ member Yunho in the music video for the group's 2006 release "Balloons."[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/moonbin-astro-legacy/) A few years later he made his television debut in the KBS drama *Boys Over Flowers*, which aired from 2009, playing the younger version of actor [Kim Bum](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-bum)'s character.[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/moonbin-astro-legacy/) In a later interview he recalled the schedule of those years: "When school ended, my everyday routine was driving an hour to Seoul for filming."[6](https://www.soompi.com/article/1522946wpp/astros-moonbin-on-the-film-that-inspired-his-exorcist-themed-comeback-with-sanha-relating-to-movie-villains-and-more)
Around this time he became a K-pop trainee, joining the label Fantagio Music and participating in the company's boy group project iTeen.[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/moonbin-astro-legacy/)
## ASTRO and Moonbin & Sanha
Moonbin debuted with the six-member group ASTRO on February 23, 2016, with the EP *Spring Up*.[4](https://rollingstoneindia.com/moonbin-astro-legacy/) He had met his bandmates when they appeared together in the web drama *To Be Continued*.[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) Billboard listed ASTRO among the top-10 new K-pop groups that year, praising their "bright, synthpop sound that won over K-pop lovers from around the world."[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) The group's international hits included "All Night," "Crazy Sexy Cool," and "Blue Flame," all of which were successful in the United States.[5](https://www.legacy.com/news/moonbin-1998-2023-singer-with-k-pop-group-astro)
Within the group, Moonbin served as main dancer and lead vocalist.[1](https://kpopping.com/profiles/idol/Moonbin) He was known especially as a dancer, with a style that combined power with clear lines, and he also contributed a distinct vocal tone to the group's sound; over the years he frequently contributed lyrics to ASTRO's songwriting.[7](https://notesonkpop.com/remembering-moonbin/)
**Hiatus and return.** Moonbin took a hiatus in 2019 to focus on his health, and later returned to the group.[5](https://www.legacy.com/news/moonbin-1998-2023-singer-with-k-pop-group-astro) In 2020 he and bandmate Yoon San-ha formed Moonbin & Sanha, ASTRO's first sub-unit, and released their debut album.[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) The unit's releases, including *In-Out*, *Refuge*, and *Incense*, gave him more concentrated vocal and concept responsibility than the six-member group arrangement.[8](https://cvmsekai.com/moonbin-astro/) In a 2022 interview with Pop Crave, he described composing for the unit's albums as the most fun part of the work: "If we differentiate just a little bit, it becomes a whole new song."[5](https://www.legacy.com/news/moonbin-1998-2023-singer-with-k-pop-group-astro)
## Acting and hosting
Beyond his child roles, Moonbin appeared in television shows and web series including *Moment of Eighteen* (2019), in which he played the character Jung Oh-je, *Sweet Revenge*, and *The Mermaid Prince*.[5](https://www.legacy.com/news/moonbin-1998-2023-singer-with-k-pop-group-astro) • [1](https://kpopping.com/profiles/idol/Moonbin) He was a cast member of *Saturday Night Live Korea* and co-hosted the weekly music competition program *Show Champion*, a stint that ran from 2020 to 2022.[5](https://www.legacy.com/news/moonbin-1998-2023-singer-with-k-pop-group-astro) • [9](https://tollbit.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2025/03/31/k-pop-stars-to-honor-the-late-moonbin-with-april-tribute-song/)
## Death
Moonbin was found unresponsive in his Gangnam apartment by his manager on the evening of April 19, 2023, after he had stopped responding to contacts.[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) Officials told South Korean news media that his death was believed to be a suicide, and that there were no signs of foul play; the cause was pending an autopsy.[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) His agency, Fantagio, announced that the funeral would be held "as quietly as possible," limited mainly to family, close friends, and colleagues, at the wishes of his relatives.[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/)
The company set up a memorial space at its headquarters and later moved it to Gukcheongsa Temple at [Namhansanseong](https://www.edgepedia.org/namhansanseong), where it remained for six months as mourning continued.[2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/12020894) Fans laid flowers and left notes at street memorials in South Korea and around the world, and the hashtag #MoonBinWeLoveYou trended on Twitter.[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) His sister Moon Sua canceled and postponed upcoming shows and stepped away from activities for a time.[3](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/) • [2](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/12020894)
## Tributes and legacy
Fellow entertainers including Kim Jong Kook, Taemin of SHINee, Yunho of TVXQ, and Kim Jaejoong publicly paid their respects in the days after his death.[10](https://www.koreaboo.com/news/kpop-stars-pay-respects-astro-moonbin/) His death also renewed scrutiny of the pressures performers face in the highly competitive Korean entertainment industry.[11](https://tmng-al.uspto.gov/resting2/api/casedoc/cms/case/99406950/office-action/OfficeAction8253213.pdf)
**"Memory of the Moon."** On April 19, 2025, the second anniversary of his death, Fantagio released the tribute single "Memory of the Moon" (꿈속의 문(Moon) : Memory of the Moon), described by the agency as "a letter from his friends to Moonbin."[12](https://kpopworld.com/en/news/memory-of-the-moon-a-tribute-to-moonbin-that-echoes-beyond-grief) ASTRO's MJ, JinJin, Cha Eun Woo, and Sanha, together with ex-member Rocky, penned the lyrics, and the track brought together a broad group of performers: VIVIZ; MONSTA X's Minhyuk, Kihyun, and I.M; SEVENTEEN's Hoshi, Wonwoo, Mingyu, DK, and [Seungkwan](https://www.edgepedia.org/seungkwan); HELLO GLOOM; Rocky; Choi Yoojung and Kim Doyeon; SF9's Chani; [Stray Kids](https://www.edgepedia.org/stray-kids)' Bang Chan; and Moon Sua of Billlie.[12](https://kpopworld.com/en/news/memory-of-the-moon-a-tribute-to-moonbin-that-echoes-beyond-grief) Moon Sua delivers one of the song's most personal moments, singing "I love you so much and I'm sorry."[12](https://kpopworld.com/en/news/memory-of-the-moon-a-tribute-to-moonbin-that-echoes-beyond-grief)
The remaining ASTRO members continue to mark his memory. On his 27th birth anniversary in 2025, [Cha Eun-woo](https://www.edgepedia.org/cha-eun-woo) posted photos and a video, visited Moonbin's grave to leave his favorite snacks, and uploaded a cover of Shin Seung Hun's 1994 hit "After A Long Time" with a note reading, "Happy birthday, Binnie. How are you doing? Lately, I miss you even more than usual."[13](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/on-moonbins-27th-birth-anniversary-tributes-from-astro-members-cha-eun-woo-yoon-san-ha-jinjin-and-mj-7568661/amp/1) Fantagio and the members honor him through white butterfly symbols and moonlight tributes at concerts.[14](https://kpopbeen.com/astro-profile/)
## References
1. [Moonbin (ASTRO) profile, age, MBTI & facts, kpopping](https://kpopping.com/profiles/idol/Moonbin)
2. [Moonbin, Three Years On Today: A Star Who Left at 25, Maeil Business Newspaper (MK)](https://www.mk.co.kr/en/hot-issues/12020894)
3. [The K-Pop Star Moon Bin Died Aged 25. Here's Everything We Know, TIME](https://time.com/6273299/moon-bin-astro-dead/)
4. [Astro's Moonbin: A Walk Through His Legacy, Rolling Stone India](https://rollingstoneindia.com/moonbin-astro-legacy/)
5. [Moonbin (1998–2023), singer with K-pop group Astro, Legacy.com](https://www.legacy.com/news/moonbin-1998-2023-singer-with-k-pop-group-astro)
6. [ASTRO's Moonbin On The Film That Inspired His Exorcist-Themed Comeback With Sanha, and More, Soompi](https://www.soompi.com/article/1522946wpp/astros-moonbin-on-the-film-that-inspired-his-exorcist-themed-comeback-with-sanha-relating-to-movie-villains-and-more)
7. [Remembering Moonbin, Notes on K-pop](https://notesonkpop.com/remembering-moonbin/)
8. [Moonbin (ASTRO) Profile: Birth Name, Dance, Acting, Unit Work and Facts, CVM Sekai](https://cvmsekai.com/moonbin-astro/)
9. [K-Pop Stars To Honor The Late Moonbin With April Tribute Song, Forbes](https://tollbit.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2025/03/31/k-pop-stars-to-honor-the-late-moonbin-with-april-tribute-song/)
10. [More K-Pop Stars Pay Their Respects To ASTRO's Moonbin, Koreaboo](https://www.koreaboo.com/news/kpop-stars-pay-respects-astro-moonbin/)
11. [Non-Final Action [99406950], USPTO office action citing 2023 coverage](https://tmng-al.uspto.gov/resting2/api/casedoc/cms/case/99406950/office-action/OfficeAction8253213.pdf)
12. ["Memory of the Moon": A Tribute to Moonbin That Echoes Beyond Grief, KpopWorld](https://kpopworld.com/en/news/memory-of-the-moon-a-tribute-to-moonbin-that-echoes-beyond-grief)
13. [On Moonbin's 27th Birth Anniversary, Tributes From ASTRO Members, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/on-moonbins-27th-birth-anniversary-tributes-from-astro-members-cha-eun-woo-yoon-san-ha-jinjin-and-mj-7568661/amp/1)
14. [ASTRO Profile (2026): Members, Career & Legacy, KpopBeen](https://kpopbeen.com/astro-profile/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › East and Southeast Asian pop scenes › K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › Artists, groups, and people: K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › Third-generation idol groups › Surnames K to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license