Moon Bin, a member of the popular K-pop boy band ASTRO, was reportedly found dead at his home on Thursday.
The 25-year-old star appears to have taken his own life but an autopsy is being reviewed as no signs of criminal activity have been found so far, police said.
Moon Bin’s music label, Fantagio, confirmed his death in a statement on its official Twitter page on Thursday.
“On April 19, ASTRO member Moon bin suddenly left our world and has become a star in the sky”.
“Please refrain from speculative and malicious reporting for the bereaved family who has received this sad news unexpectedly and let them mourn in reverence,” the statement urged.
The family will be holding a funeral with friends and colleagues as privately as possible, it said.
The cause of the death still remains unknown as it was not conveyed by the statement to the public.
Moon Bin born Jan. 26, 1998, was an actor and model before joining ASTRO. The six-member groups debuted in 2016 after the members had appeared in a popular reality show.
Fans all over the world could not help but remember Moonbin as they gaze upon the rare hybrid solar eclipse that graced the sky on Thursday, a day after K-pop artist from the K-pop group ASTRO passed away.
South Korea has a high record of youth suicide among all other developed countries, having seen four suicides in the K-pop industry since this year.
Writing by Juliet Onwurah; Editing by Julian Osamoto