BigBang’s Seungri dragged on prostitution, drugs, violence

By: Revia Mae Sibal

The world of K-Pop was rocked yet again with another controversy; sex scandals, prostitution and drugs.
It all began January this year, when a staff in a club named Burning Sun was accused of assault. CCTV footages of the said assault was aired publicly both on television shows and of course, social media.
Seungri, member of K-Pop group BigBang, was dragged into this mess as he was in charge of the club’s public relations. He shortly resigned after the controversy.
According to the assault victim, he asked the security to help a female clubber who was sexually harassed. Instead of lending a hand, the victim was beaten up by the club’s staff until the police were called.
A few days after, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that Burning Sun’s allegedly illegal activities, from bribing the police to drug peddling, will be investigated accordingly. However, the club was also accused of providing VIP clients with drugged female clubbers to rape.
On February 2, an apology was uploaded in Seungri’s Instagram account. He wrote, “I apologise to all those who have been unhappy or worried about recent events and controversies related to me.” He also stated that he wasn’t present at the club during the time of the assault.
Few days after, the club Burning Sun reportedly shuts down.
It’s like the calm before the storm. You might think that the issue ends here. If you thought so, you’re mistaken.
On February 26, new allegations of Seungri hooking up VIP clients with prostitutes at night clubs were brought to the public eye. The allegations were made by a South Korean news outlet which disclosed a KakaoTalk exchange between Seungri and three other people.
The exchange appears as if Seungri is arranging female escorts to serve his potential business investors. He denied the allegations and claimed that the text messages were fabricated.
The next day, the Korean singer was invited by the police for questioning and drug tests.
On March 10, ARENA, a club located in Gangnam District, was seized by the police for further investigation. In the KakaoTalk exchange, it was implied that Seungri and the CEO of Yuri Holdings were hiring prostitutes at ARENA for their foreign business investors.
After the search, Seungri, along with other few people in the said KakaoTalk group chat, has been booked on charges of violating the law on the punishment of prostitution mediation and other related actions.