Former Big Bang member Seungri (real name Lee Seung-hyun) directly denied reports that he is planning a business in China. This marks his first expression of feelings since the Burning Sun controversy, drawing attention.
Seungri stated in an interview with a media outlet on the 3rd, "The overseas schedule is for personal time, such as meeting old acquaintances or attending weddings, and there are no business plans at all."
Recently, there were reports that Seungri was planning a business in China or preparing to open a new club overseas. Seungri directly contacted domestic media to deny such suspicions.
Seungri was identified as a key figure in the sex trafficking and sexual assault crimes linked to the club Burning Sun, colloquially known as the 'Burning Sun Gate' or 'Burning Sun Incident.' In connection with this, it was revealed that he facilitated prostitution at the club he operated, filmed illegal sexual acts, distributed those videos, and embezzled funds, creating a shocking scandal.
As a result, Seungri was expelled from his group Big Bang and retired from the entertainment industry. Furthermore, he faced nine charges, including violations of the law regarding the punishment of acts facilitating prostitution, violations of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes using Cameras, violations of the Food Sanitation Act, embezzlement, habitual gambling, violations of the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act, and instigating special assault.
He even faced criticism for joining the military during this process, which was described as a draft-evading enlistment. After receiving a three-year prison sentence in the first trial, he was incarcerated in military prison, sentenced to one year and six months in the second trial, and upon finalizing the sentence in the Supreme Court, he was released from the civilian prison in Yeosu in February 2023.
After his release, Seungri was again criticized for his overseas activities, including a stage where he boasted, "I will bring G-Dragon here" in Cambodia. During this process, it became a trend for netizens to mock Seungri using the antonym of 'victory,' referring to him as 'defeat.'
The interview released that day attracted attention as it marked Seungri's first contact with domestic media since the Burning Sun controversy. In the interview, he remarked, "It seems amusing to call me defeat," expressing a tinge of bitterness.
Additionally, Seungri expressed, "I sincerely apologize for having caused fatigue through noise regarding my personal matters multiple times. I will act more carefully to prevent any controversies in private matters and show a responsible attitude," but it did not resonate with the public. This was due to the emphasis on 'defense' over a genuine apology, resulting in ongoing criticism and backlash against Seungri.
[Photo] OSEN DB.
[OSEN]