You can find all of our “Bias Duality” articles in one place by clicking here! This week’s “Bias Duality” article is dedicated to someone who has the glow of star-shine in his smile, ASTRO’s MoonBin. His unbelievable talent, glorious visuals, and delightful personality have made millions fall head over heels for him. This is probably why, with 54.3% of the total votes cast by Kpopmap readers on the poll in our previous “Bias Duality” article, MoonBin was chosen by an overwhelming majority of fans to appear on this series! To participate in choosing the artist who will be featured in our next “Bias Duality” article, you can vote for your favourite idol/actor below! If you would like to see a different idol/actor (one who is not mentioned in the poll) featured in the series, please leave their name in the comments section, and we will add them to the vote lineup next time! Now onto our bias!
Ad Astra: MoonBin’s Extraordinary Artistic Journey
Every era in history has figures that dominate the cultural sphere. We’ve had rockstars, boy bands, pop divas, and more influencing the world, molding the definition of what’s popular. However, almost all of them were from the West. This time, it is the East that is shaping world culture and at the forefront of it all, are K-Pop idols. One such extraordinary pioneer of the latest Hallyu wave is ASTRO’s MoonBin. From a very young age, MoonBin found meaning in self-expression, whether that be through music, modeling or acting, and so on and so forth. He was famously a child model and even more prominent over the internet for his ulzzang status. Even before his debut, he was popular all over Asia, which was only amplified when he appeared in TVXQ’s music video for ‘Balloons’ and later in “Boys Over Flowers”, the K-Drama that made the Korean wave crash land on the world with more force than ever before. Soon after, he joined fantagio as a trainee when he was merely in fifth grade and years later, debuted in one of the most highly anticipated boy groups, ASTRO. He was instantly picked up by variety shows, where he proved his mettle as an all-round entertainer and was cast in the first 2 seasons of “The Ultimate Watchlist” as a Main Host. His hard-earned success came quick, and the fruit of his labor was sweeter than ever. A breakthrough moment in his acting career that truly set him apart as a rising star was when he played Jung OhJe in “At Eighteen”. His nuanced portrayal of a character who feels cornered yet is unafraid of being true to himself was brilliant, to say the least. From then on, there was no looking back. His position in the industry was further solidified by “The Mermaid Prince”, which shot him to popularity even among viewers who were not fans of K-Pop. In the meantime, he hosted “Show Champion”, joined “Food Avengers”, debuted with fellow member Yoon SanHa as the subunit MOONBIN & SANHA, becoming the fastest sub-unit to get their first win at a music show ever, and became a cast member for the second season of the prestigious show “Saturday Night Live Korea”. If that doesn’t say enough about the abundance of talent MoonBin is blessed with, we don’t know what will. He really said, “to infinity and beyond,” and kept going. When it comes to personality, MoonBin is usually the one who is mistaken for being the most “normal” yet, in reality, is the most chaotic of them all. His sense of humour is off the charts, and it is equal parts witty as it is silly. His rich inner world finds manifestation in his outward appearance because you’ll often find him zoning out, acting as he pleases, or saying what comes to mind, especially when he’s around his members. At the same time, he is intensely dedicated to his art and has a laser-sharp focus when it comes to the same. Speaking of his members, MoonBin is not just fond of them but loves them dearly with all his heart. ASTRO is a family, and it shows. MoonBin is openly possessive about his members and protects them at all times but also loves to be adored and showered with affection. For MoonBin, ASTRO is quite literally, his “everything”. He is kind, considerate, generous, and attentive, always making sure that his members are comfortable and confident. He’s such a huge support system for them that they find themselves relying on MoonBin too. At the same time, it is only with them that MoonBin can truly be his dorky, adorable self. It is almost as if all the ASTRO members are platonic soulmates, and we’re totally here for this energy! MoonBin is also immensely beloved for his aegyo, even more so because some fans have seen him grow up from an actual baby to an unbelievably handsome man. To see those images juxtaposed is like seeing worlds collide. MoonBin’s machismo is something that stands out at first glance, yet his cuteness could really overpower it if he wanted it to. As a matter of fact, the duality of MoonBin’s signature facial expressions, that of a haughty cat and an adorable puppy, have even earned him the nickname “Puppycat”! Another one of MoonBin’s cherished qualities worth praising is that he’s a fitness aficionado who advocates for body positivity. He is a foodie through and through and loves to exercise but doesn’t correlate one with the other. The fact that he loves to eat and is the happiest when eating doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that he also enjoys working out, and that in itself, can help innumerable people foster a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. This is only one among the several ways in which MoonBin has changed lives, especially since his very principle as an artist is to make a positive impact, a difference in the world. He cares for AROHA, knows exactly how to comfort them, and wants to show them the world. He can be a baby with AROHA, but he’s also mature, understanding, and sincere. Needless to say, they’re the best of friends!
The Range Of A Master: MoonBin’s Vocal Duality
Perfection can be honed, but aptitude is something one is born with. ASTRO’s MoonBin is wired for success and glory, and his irresistibly hypnotic voice is proof of that. MoonBin’s vocal tone and colour are so uniquely his own, so inimitable, raw, and distinct that there will never be another. He has a natural penchant for songwriting which seamlessly translates into the way he vocalizes his songs, pours his soul into the lyrics, and makes them come alive. However, while MoonBin’s natural talent is undeniable, the immense hard work he has put into mastering his skills and technique is worth high praise. MoonBin’s voice has a magical ability of switching from a husky, alluring, and dark tone to a warm, sweet and bright one, which is why it is so compatible with ASTRO’s discography. In addition, it is also what sets him apart as a singer and allows him to bring something fresh and new to the table every time. His identity as the lead vocalist of ASTRO and as a part of MOONBIN & SANHA are markedly separate yet coherent at the same time. MOONBIN & SANHA’s sound is quite different from ASTRO’s overall sonic aesthetic, yet MoonBin can ace both with such conviction that we’re nothing short of obsessed with his talent. Four songs that perfectly illustrate MoonBin’s vocal duality are ‘Who’ versus ‘Distance’ from MOONBIN & SANHA’s latest EP “Refuge” and ASTRO’s ‘12 Hours’ versus ‘Candy Sugar Pop’. Just within these four songs, MoonBin’s range is phenomenal, to say the least. His higher register is evidently incredible but his lower register is equally polished and definitely deserves more attention. His emphatic high notes are flawless but his deep low notes could send us into swoon-mode in no time. This is exactly what we mean when we say vocal duality. ‘Who’ highlights the passion in MoonBin’s voice and the pitch perfect modulation in the same. It is certainly a challenging song but MoonBin’s live vocals for ‘Who’ are heaven-sent. They’re stable, powerful and leave a hard-hitting impact. On the other hand, the underrated b-side track ‘Distance’ is heartfelt, soft and honeyed. There’s a sense of desperation in his voice that precisely conveys the emotion of the song. Every word that leaves his lips is imbued with feeling and sincerity and you cannot help but empathize with what he is feeling. Like ‘Distance’, ‘12 Hours’ is brimming with sentiment and yet, there is a bright tone to it that is impossible to miss. It is one of those songs that will have you crying in the club. MoonBin is such an expert at expressing this duality that we cannot help but marvel at it. Finally, ‘Candy Sugar Pop’, a song MoonBin is credited for co-writing alongside JinJin, Rocky, MOONi, Enzo and Owol, is the sweetest love song dedicated to AROHA. The vocal runs MoonBin delivers in this song and the way he does it with such panache leaves us breathless (pun well intended). What is even more impressive is that his live version sounds even better than the studio version! Now, that’s excellence right there.
Witnessing Greatness: MoonBin’s Stage Duality
MoonBin’s tryst with the stage, his rendezvous with the camera and his affair with our hearts are some of the wonders of this world. The Stage Genius MoonBin was destined for greatness and his performances make it fully evident. The sheer charisma he has on stage, the way he flirts with the idea of making us lose our minds, transports us a whole new world and brings us back in an instant, making us oscillate between dream and reality, is what makes him such a fantastic performer. MoonBin is the main dancer and centre of ASTRO, which are not only positions of responsibility but also of pride. He has a knack for performance direction and knows how to share the spotlight when in a group setting. At the same time, he is also deft at pulling you in, drawing your attention and holding it. MoonBin’s dance skills speak for themselves, and his facial expressions are out of this world. He’s also lauded for his cover of girl groups songs which he reinvents with the ultimate pizzazz, making us go weak in the knees. Special props, however, are due to MoonBin’s eyes. His gaze is both piercing and comforting, determined and gentle, focused and warm. They say the eyes are the window to the soul and there’s no one this applies more truly to than MoonBin. He expresses matters of the heart with his eyes, and the ocean of feeling they hold is enough for us to drown in. In terms of stage presence, MoonBin is unbeatable. One second, we’re holding our hearts from how dazzling and enchanting he looks in a princely concept and in the next, we’re holding our breath because of how magnetic and captivating he is in a dark, mysterious one. His energy is so assertive and commanding that you cannot help but give in to his charms. Feisty one moment, fatal the other, smug once, innocent next, MoonBin’s stage duality is beyond comparison. It is no wonder, therefore, that his acting is just as spectacular. Some stage performances that capture this enthralling duality include his special stage of TVXQ’s ‘Mirotic’ at “Gayo Daejeon” (performed by WOODZ, MoonBin, Stray Kids’ HyunJin, THE BOYZ’s JuYeon, and SF9’s Yoo TaeYang), SuperM’s ‘Tiger Inside’ at “MBC Music Festival” (performed by MoonBin, PENTAGON’s Kino, THE BOYZ’s Q and JuYeon, Stray Kids’ Lee Know, ONEUS’ HwanWoong and AB6IX’s Kim DongHyun), ASTRO’s ‘One’ at “Show! Music Core”, ‘All Night’ at “MCOUNTDOWN” and MOONBIN & SANHA’s ‘Who’, also at “MCOUNTDOWN”. It is virtually impossible to take your eyes off of MoonBin during ‘Mirotic’ and somehow, that itself embodies the essence of the song. His vocals are en pointe, his execution of the choreography is exquisite, and his expressions are out-and-out superb. He knows that he has the audience wrapped around his finger, and his slight smirks speak volumes of that confidence. ‘Tiger Inside’ is the stage that turned countless non-AROHA into hardcore baby AROHA. MoonBin’s stage presence was otherworldly during this performance, and he embodied the spirit of the tiger like nobody’s business. His eyes were sharp and seemed to be looking straight into our souls. For fans who might not know, MoonBin was physically hurt during this stage but pulled through like the professional he is, even giving us one of his best performances ever. In ‘One’, it almost feels as though MoonBin has a fire burning in his eyes. From the defined isolation to the most meticulous steps, MoonBin moves like clockwork, and it is undoubtedly the most impressive thing we’ve ever seen. He’s the main dancer for a reason, after all! If MoonBin has a feverish intensity in ‘One’, he invokes a cool and breezy romanticism in ‘All Night’. He seems to transform into an entirely different person here, which becomes even more fascinating when you think of all the artistic sides he is capable of showing. Finally, ‘Who’ is a coalescence of all of the above and more. This stage is where MoonBin’s duality takes flight, shines with a luminous glow, and exhilarates us. It is nothing like anything we’ve seen before, and we could gush about it all day. 2022317 ‘Who’ is most definitely going down in the history of K-Pop as the most iconic MoonBin fancam of all time. For more of MoonBin’s stage duality, check out his performance of ‘Candy In My Ears’ with his sister Billlie’s Moon SuA at “Music Bank”. It also happens to be a stunning example of MoonBin’s vocal duality! Some other videos we highly recommend are MoonBin’s cover of ITZY’s ‘Wannabe’, his performance of SunMi’s ‘24 Hours’ and most importantly, his self-choreographed performance video of ‘bad guy’ by Billie Eilish (performed by MOONBIN & SANHA), which is inarguably a masterpiece.
MoonBin The Rockstar Or DalKong The Cutie: Aesthetic Duality At Its Finest
We couldn’t possibly conclude without addressing the Puppycat in the room, MoonBin’s aesthetic duality. Before we get to his fashion, allow us to draw your attention to the fact that MoonBin can go from day to night mode in the blink of an eye. His eye smile, coupled with his adorable laugh, will make you melt into a puddle, but before you know it, he might casually brush his hair back with the most carefree look, and it’ll suddenly be too hot to handle. This back and forth between baby and babe is what makes MoonBin’s aesthetic duality so mesmerizing, and if you’re in the mood to bless yourself, just take a look at his Instagram (@moon_ko_ng) and consider joining the 3.2 million people who follow him for their daily dose of serotonin. Coming to MoonBin’s style quotient, the man has a natural predisposition for setting trends, whether that be through his stage outfits, personal fashion, or otherwise. He looks just as handsome in a hanbok as he does in a lace tank, a suit is as grand on him as a hoodie, and a selfie is just as breathtaking as a photoshoot. Can he get any more perfect? At the end of the day, there are no two ways about the fact that MoonBin was born to be an artist. His self-expression is a source of comfort, happiness, and celebration to millions all over the world, and that truly means more than anything in the times we live in today. MoonBin is a poet, his performance is poetry, and as we all know, “poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for”. We truly have a lot to thank MoonBin for, in that respect, and we will keep loving and supporting him endlessly for bringing us such euphoria. If you’re looking for more content about ASTRO on Kpopmap, here are some articles you might enjoy!
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