(From left) Seventeen’s Woozi, Astro’s Moonbin, Astro’s Cha Eun-woo. Images: Courtesy of their respective agencies
Seventeen’s Woozi and Astro’s Cha Eun-woo expressed their love for the late Moonbin through music, as the latter would have turned 26 on Friday, Jan. 26.
At the age of 25, Moonbin was found dead in his home in Gangnam district in Seoul, South Korea, at around 8:10 p.m. on April 19, 2023. His death was confirmed by his agency Fantagio in an official statement on April 20.
Woozi released the single “What Kind of Future” at midnight on Jan. 26 in South Korea (Jan. 25 in the Philippines)—which coincides with Moonbin’s birthday—to fulfill his promise to the late K-pop star.
Without mentioning the Astro member’s name, Woozi introduced the single on the Korean streaming platform Melon with the phrase: “I will never forget your smile filled with love, no matter what the future holds.”
A screengrab of “What Kind of Future’s” description on the Korean streaming platform Melon. Image: Screengrab from Melon
The single was first introduced in February 2020 and was said to be a personal composition for the Seventeen chief producer. He also recalled Moonbin loving the song the first time he heard it and promised to “bring it on [his] birthday” three years later.
“I want you to hear it on the digital version of ‘What Kind of Future’ you sang about. I will take responsibility in some way and fight with the company so I will definitely bring it to you on your birthday,” Woozi wrote on one of Moonbin’s social media pages.
Meanwhile, Eun-woo uploaded a cover of the song “Love Is Gone” on his official YouTube channel on the same day. Dylan Matthew and Slander originally sang the 2019 single.
As seen in the description, the singer-actor said the song is his way of wishing his bandmate a “happy birthday.”
“Bin, how are you? I just want to wish you a happy birthday like always,” he wrote in Korean. “You must be watching it somewhere, right? Every time I think of you, I work harder. Whenever I miss you, even though it’s hard, I will do my best with all my heart.”
Tributes to Moonbin
Seventeen’s Seungkwan, singer-actress Lee Su-ji, Viviz’s SinB and Umji, and former IMFACT member Ungjae appeared to hold an intimate birthday celebration for Moonbin, as seen in glimpses on their respective Instagram accounts.
Dubbed the 98-liners (as they were born in 1998), the South Korean celebrities are known to be close friends.
Image: Screengrab from Viviz’s SinB’s Instagram page
Image: Screengrab from Lee Su-ji’s Instagram page
Image: Screengrab from Viviz’s Umji’s Instagram page
Image: Screengrab from Seventeen’s Seungkwan’s Instagram page
Image: Screengrab from Viviz’s SinB’s Instagram page
Seungkwan also showed support for Woozi’s single on his Instagram Story. He previously dropped a cover of “Shape” by Korean singer Choi Yu-ree on his birthday last Jan. 16.
Image: Screengrab from Seventeen’s Seungkwan’s Instagram page
His cover contained clips of himself with Moonbin.
Meanwhile, Moonbin’s bandmate Sanha greeted his “big brother” on Instagram. He also expressed his support for Eun-woo’s cover.
Image: Screengrab from Astro’s Sanha’s Instagram page
Image: Screengrab from Astro’s Sanha’s Instagram page
Image: Screengrab from Astro’s Sanha’s Instagram page
Astro’s Jinjin and MJ looked back at some of their fondest memories with their late bandmate to mark his special day, as seen on the boy group’s official X (formerly Twitter) page.
빈아 생일 축하한다!!ㅎㅎ
잘 지내지?? 오늘은 더 보고 싶은 날이다!!
형 요즘 아주 열심히 살고 있어!! 보고 있을 거라 생각하며 산다 ㅎㅎ 잘 먹고 잘 쉬고 있지? 오늘은 미역국 꼭 챙겨 먹고 우리 사진이 많이 없네 사진 좀 많이 찍어둘걸 그랬다ㅎㅎ
누구보다 행복한 하루 보내야 한다 사랑한다 내… pic.twitter.com/KNR1p8tx4y— ASTRO 아스트로 (@offclASTRO) January 25, 2024
우리 빈이~ 생일 축하한다💜
사랑하고 보고 싶다 내 동생^^
글쓴이 엠제이~형#아스트로 #아로하#영원한_나의달_문빈_생일축하해 pic.twitter.com/Lh3b97Sp7l— ASTRO 아스트로 (@offclASTRO) January 25, 2024
Seventeen’s DK also shared a photo of the moon while wishing Moonbin a happy birthday. Both K-pop stars are known to be close as well.
Image: Screengrab from Seventeen’s DK’s Instagram page
Moonbin debuted as the main dancer and lead vocalist of Astro in February 2016. Before his debut, he was known as a child actor and is best known for playing the young So Yi-jeong in the hit K-drama “Boys over Flowers.”
He was also part of the subunit Moonbin & Sanha which debuted in September 2020. Among his final public performances was the Manila leg for the unit’s “Diffusion” tour in March of last year.