Amidst the tragic news of Moonbin's passing, Cha Eun Woo of the K-pop group ASTRO has made the difficult decision to participate in the cultural event "KonnecThai" as planned.
Cha Eun Woo's Decision to Attend KonnecThai
On April 23 KST, Prestige Entertainment announced that Cha Eun Woo will participate in the "KonnecThai" event as scheduled. They announced that they are hoping for a meaningful event following the difficult decision made by the singer/actor Cha Eun Woo, Fantagio, and all the organizers.
Despite being in a complete state of shock following the news of Moonbin's passing on April 19, Cha Eun Woo ultimately decided to fulfill his duty with "KonnecThai," as it is a nationally meaningful event. The singer/actor is expected to be in Thailand on April 30.
ASTRO Members Gather for Moonbin's Funeral
Following Moonbin's death on April 19, the ASTRO members rushed to be with each other and their late friend's family. Members JinJin and Sanha were immediately visited and consoled Moonbin's family after hearing the devastating news. MJ, who is currently enlisted in the military, took emergency leave to attend the funeral.
Cha Eun Woo, who was in the US for Coachella 2023, made a hasty return to South Korea upon hearing the tragic news. He was said to arrive at Incheon International Airport with a somber appearance. The ASTRO member was seen wearing a black hat, dark navy jacket, and black pants, with visibly sad, tearful eyes. Former ASTRO member Rocky also arrived for the wake.
Fans and Celebrities Mourn Moonbin's Passing
The K-pop industry is in shock after Moonbin's tragic passing at the age of 25. Many fans and celebrities have expressed their condolences and asked for respect for the privacy of Moonbin's family and the ASTRO members.
Fans became enraged when media shared videos of Cha Eun Woo's arrival in South Korea. AROHA, the group's official fandom, took to Twitter, requesting others to refrain from sharing the video and to respect Cha Eun Woo's privacy during this sensitive time.
Prestige Entertainment's Statement on Cha Eun Woo's Participation in KonnecThai
In their official statement, Prestige Entertainment said:
"Greetings, this is Prestige Entertainment. KonnecThai, a cultural alliance occasion between Korea and Thailand involving key artists, VIPs, attendees, and a multitude of fans from both nations, will see the participation of artist Cha Eun Woo as originally planned. The resolution was reached after thorough discussions among Fantagio, Cha Eun Woo, and the event coordinators, and we will put forth our utmost effort to render KonnecThai to be more significant. Thank you. Finally, we extend our profound condolences to the departed."
We also extend our most heartfelt and profound sympathies to Moonbin's family, friends, and admirers during this challenging period.