Heartwarming / Astro

Jinjin: As a leader, I'm most proud of the fact that we all really take care of each other. When I am stressed out or exhausted, my teammates lift me up, and we're the type of group that tries to leave no man behind.

• Astro and Aroha (the fandom name) sharing the same anniversary, i.e. 23rd February.
• Reminiscing about their past (pre-debut and initial years after debut in particular) is something that the members seem to love doing, and do quite often, especially Rocky. This transitions into their music as well, as they have a lot of fan-songs about reminiscing on the path Astro and Aroha have walked down together through the years.
• The members giving Eunwoo a li'l surprise party after his last day of MC-ing at Music Core. They ended the vlive with all of the members literally glomping him in a big group hug.
• The story behind how the members bonded with each other pre-debut, as Moon Bin talks about it in a Liev- that even though they were individually competing for their spot in the group, they would often help and lookout for each other amidst all the competition. It is this sense of selflessness that all the members have, that their bond is so strong now.
• Eunwoo's bond with all of the members, especially considering the vast popularity gap. It's clear that the members care a lot about him, and vice versa; he has even described Astro's existence akin to that of a "home" for himself. Eric Nam, who's also friends with Jinjin, talked about this in his podcast once, emphasising on how such a situation can cause a drift between the members of a group, but that's not the case with Astro as the members genuinely enjoy each others' company.
  • For that matter, the group's dynamic in general. Jinjin once talked about how people sometimes ask if the members were selected because of their personalities, just because of how well they blend in together.
  • These lines from Eunwoo in their DAZED magazine interview (2021):
    Eunwoo: We have been together for 10 years, including our trainee days. They've been with me ever since I was called Lee Dongmin.^note  Lee Dongmin is Eunwoo's real name, and the name he went by during their predebut years.
• Sanha missed out on a regular school life due to debuting at such a young age. So the members, especially MJ, would often play around with him to ensure that he could have fun and enjoy when it was necessary.
• In one of the radio guestings in their debut year, the members were asked to send a message to their families. Words wouldn't do justice to their answers, so here is a thread compiling each member's message for their respective families, and siblings in particular. Both heartwarming and tearjerking, as you can clearly tell how much they love their families, and miss them.

• How much they hype up each others' solo ventures, and cheer each other on. Here are some instances:
  • Whenever Eunwoo has a drama, not only do they support him, but even playfully tease him with the characters he's played. When True Beauty (2020) was airing, Rocky would even tweet about it regularly on the group's Twitter account.
  • All the members going to watch "Everyone's Talking About Jamie" (the Korean rendition of an English musical by the same name), where MJ was cast in the lead role. They hyped him up, playfully teased him, and showered him with compliments for his performance.
  • Supporting Moon Bin and Sanha's sub-unit debut in their own ways- Eunwoo visited them on the filming site, and even brought them snacks (amidst his busy schedule, which also included filming of True Beauty); MJ, Jinjin and Rocky went to cheer them on their debut stage.
  • For MJ's solo debut, the members visited his music video filming site, and did the Tik Tok challenge with him. Meanwhile Jinjin was the MC for his debut vlive showcase.
  • Moon Bin MC-ing for their second unit, Jinjin and Rocky's debut showcase on Youtube. Not only that, but MJ, Bin and Sanha also visited them on the filming site. They also asked the fans to give them a lot of support and love, not to mention MJ tweeting about the sub-unit just minutes after the music video and album were released.
• Whenever there is a member missing during group schedules, they try to include said member by even the littlest means- for example, using "Eunwoo dolls" in a Liev in 2018 (Eunwoo was absent because of solo schedules) and even calling him up in the middle of the filming; during Moon Bin's hiatus, Rocky suggested doing Bin's signature pose for the group photo in one of their fan-meetings, and the members would always include Moon Bin in other group photos too by using his pictures, etc.
• On the second day of "Starlight"(Astro's second solo concert), the fans surprised them by singing By Your Side, one of the most emotional b-sides from the "Rise Up" album. Followed by Moon Bin's playful teasing of Arohas at being unable to reach the higher notes, and then all the members joining in and singing together.

• Their first win definitely counts as this, along with being a tearjerker for both the members and the fandom. This was not only their first ever music show win after 3 years of debut, but a win they'd had after going through almost a year long hiatus and disbandment rumours, making it all the more meaningful. Which is why it is also no wonder that the members immediately broke down into tears, especially Jinjin and Eunwoo.

• Likewise, their second music show win, which they got for Knock, also counts, as it was a win they'd had after at least 2-3 almost wins in said era. All the members immediately started crying, with even Sanha (who doesn't usually cry) struggling to stop his tears from falling. Later, in a vlive, the members admitted that they were not expecting to win at all, and even they were utterly surprised when their song started playing after the winner's announcement.

• Moon Bin talking about how close they are as a group, to the point they know even the most trivial things about each other. And saying that they are almost like real brothers at this point, because of how long they have been with each other.
• Just how often Sanha refers to Eunwoo as his role model. It's clear he adores and respects him very much, not only as his hyung, but also for his work ethic.
• Rocky's FM O2.25 Vlive series- he would ask fans to send in their their thoughts, worries, and just any kind of struggles they might be facing in their daily lives, read them on his live and try to give words of advice in order to help and encourage them. Just goes to show how wholesome a person he is.
  • From the FM series, Rocky's advice to a fan on how to deal with depressive thoughts, and his take on the same:
    Rocky: Why do you feel depressed? Of course, you can. I consider depression a type of feeling. It's prejudiced to consider it as a bad thing, that's a no-no. Don't consider it a bad one, just consider it as one of your feelings. It sounds weird.. How do I say it? Just let it pass its course. You know, how cars pass by, along with time. And the depressed feeling also passes by with the passage of time.

• For their 5th anniversary, the members had a little photo-shoot all by themselves, and wrote letters to each other. Nothing grand, but full of sincerity towards each other and the fans. Here's the video, go watch it.
• Them winning on music shows 3 times in a row for the track "ONE" in 2021. It marked the first time where an encore stage wasn't just full of tears. The members were just happy and enjoying themselves to their heart's content, making it all the more special.
• Rocky getting his first ever chance to be the "ending fairy" since debut, and what does he decide to do? Use sign language to communicate the words, "I love you, and thank you".
• Rocky editing and uploading this music video of "Our Spring", compiling video clips of the members that he had recorded on his phone during the All Yours era. He even added little scribbles and animated doodles in the video to match the lyrics!

• The members attending MJ's brother's wedding with MJ back in 2020. MJ, being the adorable younger brother he is, also sang for his brother at the wedding.

• The premise of "Switch On"- the mini-album is meant to be ASTRO's gift to ASTRO, rewarding themselves of the journey they have covered all these years. An even more awesome fact? All the members participated in the making of the songs on the album, something that has been Jinjin's goal since a long time. A bunch of moments from the After Midnight era:
  • This particular exchange between Sanha and the other members in Soompi's "ASTRO Plays Guess My Answer With Soompi" video. Just shows how much Sanha cherishes his hyungs, and vice versa.
  Q: "If Yoon San-Ha were to get stuck on a deserted island with one member, who woul>.d he want to be stuck with?"
  Jinjin's guess: He wants to go alone. (correct)
  Sanha: Okay, let's just say that's the answer.
  MJ, Jinjin: What's the reason?
  Sanha: I said that I want to go alone, reason is that I want to sacrifice myself. I don't want you guys to die.
  MJ: Why do you think about death? Think about living!
  Jinjin: But what if there are diamonds all over the island?
  Sanha: But it's a deserted island... Would there even be any value to that..?
  Moon Bin: You have to escape!!
  • This moment. Especially heartwarming considering the fact that Rocky and Jinjin rarely ever get an opportunity to be the 'ending fairy'.
  • Their first Music Bank win on 13th August 2021 for "After Midnight", which was also their first ever win on a national broadcast since debut... that is, 5 years.
  • Astro's first ever Show! Music Core win, from their reactions, to the encore stage- their elated faces alone are more than enough to make one feel all fuzzy and warm inside. Just try watching it without breaking into a smile, or a grin for that matter.

• When Jinjin was recovering from Covid, he posted a letter on fancafe with a picture of his hands doing the 'V' pose, reassuring fans that he was recovering well. Knowing how much he lurks on SNS platforms like Twitter, the fandom decided to host an hashtag event as a response to his letter, where-in fans would post a photo of their hands doing the 'V' sign as well, along with a get well soon message for Jinjin, and also trended the hashtag "#아로하는_진진을_사랑해", translating to "Aroha_loves_Jinjin".

• Jinjin MC-ing for MJ's solo debut showcase. As it turns out, MJ specifically asked for Jinjin to be the MC, saying that he's the only one who can handle him. D'aww.
  • From the same V-Live, CEO Jang and Taeyeon's surprise messages for MJ. MJ's reaction makes it all the more sweet and moving, especially considering that it was CEO Jang who made Superfive^note The trot group MJ was part of (2020). as well. He even looked like he was about to cry.

  • A surprise call from Young-tak, the trot artist who composed "Get Set Yo (계세요)". 'Elated' is an understatement for the response that it garnered from MJ.

• MJ consistently mentioning the group members on the radio guestings during his solo promotions- it's clear how much he loves performing with them and having them by his side, even though he may not be very expressive about it. When given the choice to select between a solo trip and a night stranded on an island along with his members, he chose the latter, simply because it would be more fun if they were all together.

• During a Ddanight (the title of Sanha's night-time voice only V-Live series) he played a fan's covers of Astro songs on YouTube, harmonised with her, and complimented her a lot. The next day, she even uploaded a video about it on her channel, reacting to Sanha's reaction to her covers. It's absolutely adorable.

• Everything about this conversation between MJ and an Aroha's mother- the mother reading out her daughter's handwritten letter to him, both of them discussing the importance of music in their respective lives, and last but not the least, MJ asking if he could give her a hug before parting ways. And the reason? Because she reminded him of his own mother.
• Moon Bin applying for (and winning) a fansign for Billlie's debut album, in order to support his sister, Moon Sua's debut. Talk about a supportive brother.
  • Billlie's staff even uploaded the video of Sua and Bin's call on their channel!
• MJ's first 'Get Set Yo(계세요)' win on The Trot Show- and due to the pandemic, it also marked an Astro member's first victory since their first group win on January 29th (2019) wherein Arohas were present in person, making it all the more special. MJ's message to his members:
  MJ: Members!! (Your)Hyung won 1st place!!!
• The members cheering for Eunwoo during his acceptance speech at the 2021 Asian Artist Awards; Rocky shouting "HANDSOME!" in his classic Rocky-way, and Jinjin and Moon Bin holding up LEDs for him... and Eunwoo's shy smile to top it all off.

• Huddling together for a group hug on New Year (at the MBC Gayo Daejejeon) right when the clock struck 12. Adorble, cute and heartwarming all at the same time.

• Jooheon (Monsta X) telling Rocky that the Monsta X hyungs would protect Astro if anyone ever tried to bully them. While the two groups' members are really close now, back then Astro were rookies who had just debuted, and hearing a senior say such a thing to them, in Rocky's own words, was really reassuring and comforting for the boys.

• MJ reuniting with Jang Yoonjung and 2/5 of Superfive through 'Haebang Town'. What commenced was a short but fun time spent reminiscing about Superfive and catching up with each other, and ended with him reading out his handwritten letter for her.

• On the day of MJ's last show of Jack the Ripper, the whole cast cheered him on as he said his ending speech And while MJ tried his best not to cry, he did eventually tear up at the mention of Arohas, trying to smile his tears away. To add to that, the main cast even gathered to give him a group hug, which is all the more heartwarming as the cast for the MJ's last day was the same as his first show (all, except for Gloria's actress).

• Jinjin and Rocky basically dedicating their stage on Show Champion to Moon Bin (on his birthday) by shouting "Happy Birthday" and "Happy birthday, Bin!" a total of seven to eight times throughout the performance, and Moon Bin screaming back "Thank you!" at the end of the performance.