ASTRO (Why Stan Them?)

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Kpop has been globally known these days and it is wildly accepted in many countries. Many Kpop groups are making their names outside their home country yet there are still some talented ones who are not getting enough recognition despite their capabilities and obvious talents.

I have been a long-time fan of Bigbang and I can still remember how it all started. Through the years, despite the emerging new groups in the kpop industry, I have stayed loyal with the boys. I have never been an avid fan of any Celebrities or Artists in my life, besides being a VIP. After a decade and the members are starting to be on their different paths- Taeyang getting married, Daesung and GD in the military, Top getting involved in drug scandals, and Seungri involving in one of the biggest issue in the country- I can only hope they can still get back to the industry as a whole 5-member group. I can only hope.

With all the frustrations and sadness, I came to turn into watching videos of other kpop groups, but none of them really strike me like Bigbang did before- yes, these kpop groups are all good but maybe I have already set my standards that no other groups can be compared to my kings of kpop. Then, one day I ran into one of those random videos of 6 young boys. I know they are a kpop group and I have learned they are new in the industry. As a matter of fact, it has been 3 years ago when they just had their debut. Very young, fresh and charming group of boys.

It has only been a few days when I became so fond of them and I always find myself watching their videos (DDOCA) on youtube and even watched drama series they starred in and checked also some other shows or variety shows where they guested in. I always find myself laughing everytime I watch their videos and their music is one of the reasons I always smile when I am having a bad day. They are the new boys I have started to stan. They are Astro.

So Why stan Astro?

Astro as a group has their own charm- like Bigbang did during those first Kpop era. Unlike other groups, I find these boys genuine and real as people not just as an idol. So you might be wondering, what’s so special about them tho? As an Aroha (Name of Astro fan), these are my most honest reasons why you should stan Astro:

Astro Members being loyal with their Merchandise. lol

1. Each member of Astro has their own charm. Most of the kpop groups have one or two dominating members and this is one of the reasons why fans have common biases from these kpop groups. However, you cannot have a single bias from Astro. You will have a hard time choosing one because they are all good in their own crafts and each of them has their own strength. But most of all, they treat everyone with equality.
2. They are genuine and real people. Astro members are still young men and most of the time are kids at heart. You will never see any disguise in their actions and everything just looks natural and not scripted. It’s like they are just enjoying their life while chasing their dreams. They are adorable sons of their parents and they are very caring to their fans. These kind of idols deserve more respect and recognition.
3. Astro are happy people. Have you ever watched a single video of Astro in a reality show? Or just watch some DDOCA videos? I urge you to try and you will know what I mean. All of their behind-the-scene clips are just happy pills. The fact that they are young and playful makes them naturally funny. Doesn’t care if they are idols, they are just naturally weird and dorks, but in a good way. I tell you, if you haven’t watched even one of their videos, you better do. Don’t miss to have a happy pill for today.
4. Each Member are Visuals. Well, Leadernim must be very happy of this because at least Arohas agree to him. Let’s be honest, not all kpop groups have pure visuals but mostly, have individual roles that play an important thing in the group- it could be being a rapper, the main dancer, the song-writer but not all of them have the good visuals. Astro has talented members. But all of them are just cuties and handsome young men. Check out their profile, ladies!
5. Their talents are complementary. It is very common among kpop groups to have their members play an important role or talent every performances and shows. Astro has their own charms and talents as well which is very suitable for their group that I can’t really imagine Astro without one of them. They complete each other and the group will not be Astro if they are not 6.
6. Their Music is fresh and embodies their personality. If you have heard an Astro song, you can say that almost all of them have happy melodies and upbeat rhythm. This is actually a metaphor of their personalities. Happy rhythm and fresh music- very young feeling and enthusiastic. This is their signature. However, you may have heard a few of their mellow songs, you will just fall in love with it. They can make you sad and ,at the same time, happy with their songs.

One of the very first videos I watch about Astro. And I fell in love with them for the first time.

What are their Individual Charms?

• Jinjin (Park Jin Woo)- Leadernim and self-proclaimed Group Visual. He is not the eldest among the members but he is very responsible leader and a warm Hyung (big brother) to younger members. He is the main rapper. He is one of the best dancers in the group and sings well too. (Well not too often in singing tho, sometimes he fake it that it seems he can’t sing well. lol)

Birthday: 1996.03.15
Height/Weight: 174cm/ 63kg
Nickname: Angelic Smile/ Slow Rapper (talks slowly)
Role: Astro Leader, Rapper, Dancer, Actor
Specialty: Playing Drums

Leadernim Jinjin

• MJ (Kim Myung Jun)- The happy virus and eldest member. Don’t be surprised that he is the Group’s hyungnim because he don’t act like one. lol. He always claim he doesn’t look like the eldest tho so bear with him. He is the Main Vocals as he is always assigned to sing the high parts of their song and more often, the chorus part. Should I elaborate what happy virus means? You bet, he will always make your day stress-free. He is the life-party of the group and is always the initiator of the weird stuff.

Birthday: 1994.03.05
Height/Weight: 175cm/ 58kg
Nickname: The Happy Virus
Role: Main Vocal, dancer, Life of the Party
Specialty: Singing high notes, making others laugh

The Happy Virus, MJ Hyung/Oppa

• Cha Eun Woo (Lee Dong Min)- The Face Genius and the human Alarm clock. He is a rising star and has been in a few dramas lately so he is gaining more attention among non-Aroha fans. He may not be the best singer or dancer in the group but he is the main visual who contributes a lot of fans enter the Astro world. He also plays the piano very well. He is an angel, but sometimes a playful and bully hyung too. Who can resist an Eunwoo? I can’t either.

Birthday: 1997.03.30
Height/Weight: 183cm/ 64kg
Nickname: Morning Alarm/ Face Genius
Role: Visual, Actor, Vocals, Dancer
Specialty: Swimming, playing violin, guitar and piano, Acting

The Actor & Face Genius, Eunwoo

• Moonbin (Choi Moonbin)- The Pupcat and Sexy-muscled Dancer. lol. He is actually one of the multi-talented member who can either be the cutest or the hottest. You choose. He has started in the industry as a child star before getting into an idol group. He is one of the main dancers and main vocals too. And admit it, he has the best bodybuild among the rest of the members. (tissue please)

Birthday: 1998.01.26 (May he rest in peace (T_T) 
Died: April 19, 2023
Height/Weight: 180cm/ 64kg
Nickname: Pupcat/ Sleepy Head
Role: Dancer, Vocal, Rapper, Actor, Choreographer
Specialty: Piano, Acting

Hottest Pupcat, Moonbin

• Rocky (Park Min Hyuk)- The All-around dancer and mystery talent. He is called Rocky not because he has large muscles and all, but because like a literal rock, he is dependable and strong as a person. He is the main dancer of the group who contributes most of their choreography. Trust me, he can dance almost all kinds of dance and he is still on the process of learning more kinds of it. You might think he is silent-type and too shy to do aegyo, but trust me, he is also a kid who plays a lot. haha

Birthday: 1999.02.25
Height/Weight: 176cm/ 63kg
Nickname: Chef Minhyuk/ Dancing Machine
Role: Rapper, Dancer, Choreographer, 
Specialty: Dance, Taekwondo (Level 4 Black belt Master)

The Dancing Machine, Rocky

• Ddana/ Sanha (Yoon Sanha)- The evil maknae and guitarist. The last but not the least is the youngest member of the group who keeps on getting bullied by his older hyungs and in return, sometimes turn into an evil maknae who bullies back his hyungs. How sweet is that? Among the rest, he plays the guitar and has the sweetest voice too. He is growing up so fast and Arohas are afraid to lose their baby. 😦

Birthday: 2000.03.21
Height/Weight: 184cm/ 60kg
Nickname: Beagle/ Evil Maknae
Role: Vocal, Dancer, Youngest/Maknae, Choreographer
Specialty: Playing guitar, flexible body

Honestly, I cannot get enough of these boys and is still in the process of knowing and following them online. It’s good that they have opened their individual Instagram accounts for this gives their fans a direct update coming from themselves individually and not as a group.

The OT6 (L-R: MJ, Moonbin, Jinjin, Eunwoo, Rocky and Sanha)

After being a fan of other group for almost 10 years now, only Astro has given me these butterflies again. Tho these boys might be younger, I would like to be called their Noona Aroha. lol.

A lot of people are aware that being an idol is not easy and they are limited to do things outside their comfort zone. A true fan knows the struggles of their stans and I have felt that Astro has their own struggles as a group. I, as a fan, have my own doubts too but I always pray that Astro would stay strong as a group and as individuals. People come, people go; but the most important thing is remembering that no matter what happens, a true fan will stay.

Astro deserve so much love and recognition. People will soon to discover that they are worth stanning for. Maybe, they just need to know that such group in kpop industry exist and they are not just idols but promising sons of their parents who are chasing their dreams.

The happiest people do not have the best of everything. They make the best of everything they have”

– Our fandom might still be underrated, we might not have the biggest number in the industry, but we are happy to support our boys all the way because that’s what a family does. Let’s continue to fangirl happily and stan Astro, Arohas!