Latest news with #BurningSun
Time of India
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Outrage flares at BIGBANG G-Dragon's concert as fans call to 'Bring Seungri Back' despite his involvement in Burning Sun scandal
G-Dragon's Übermensch concert has had its share of difficulties, ranging from logistical issues to unexpected cancellations. However, neither fans nor the singer was prepared for what happened at the Hong Kong concert. As the spotlight shone, dozens of LED posters requesting "Bring Seungri Back" arose, casting a dark shadow over the night. The unexpected performance sparked an online firestorm, eliciting strong reactions from VIPs and K-pop fans who saw it as a sad reminder of a dark moment in BIGBANG's history. Fans' actions deemed disrespectful to G-Dragon Attendees reported seeing the signs several times during the performance. Some stated G-Dragon noticed but chose not to look at them. Many fans blasted the behavior, calling it very disrespectful to BIGBANG's leader, particularly in light of Seungri's unexpected departure. We really weren't going to say anything, but it's pissing us off. Several times throughout the videos you can see him trying to look away from the signs and compose himself. Please, do not mention former members who have no connection to him anymore, or even try to associate… Outrage spreads across social media Following the event, angry posts filled platforms such as X (previously known as Twitter) and Instagram Threads, with loyal BIGBANG fans expressing disappointment and dissatisfaction. This has also led to the rising call for concert organizers and security to intervene in the future to avoid such incidents. the worst thing you could do to bigbang is to ask them to bring back seungri or mention anything related to that scum. Have you forgotten what he alone has done to the group? even a lot of 'vips' left the fandom when the bs scandal happened. you only care for seungri not bigbang To the ppl who thought it was funny or clever to bring up Seungri, a convicted sex offender, at GD's concert: you're vile. That wasn't bold, it was pure cruelty. U didn't jst disrespect GD, U disrespected the pain, struggle, & healing it took for him to stand on that stage again. Seungri's involvement in the Burning Sun scandal still haunts many Seungri's retirement from the entertainment industry and departure from BIGBANG in 2019 were the direct result of his pivotal role in the infamous "Burning Sun" controversy, which remains a black mark on fans and the whole K-pop community. The scandal revolved around a Seoul nightclub where allegations of prostitution, drug abuse, and violent assaults surfaced. Seungri was deeply implicated, with leaked chat logs exposing his involvement in arranging sexual favors for investors and managing the club's illicit activities. The Seungri / burning sun scandal Thread : there are many people who don't seem to know much about this complicated scandal so I'm just making a thread to update what we know till now.#Seungri #BIGBANG Despite being initially sentenced to three years in prison, his sentence was reduced following an appeal and his admission of guilt. Seungri was eventually sentenced to 18 months in prison after being charged with prostitution mediation, embezzlement, unlawful gambling, and currency crimes. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Pink Villa
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Was ex-BIGBANG's Seungri paid to ‘take the fall'? TOP's alleged ex-GF claims all members were 'involved' in Burning Sun scandal
Trigger Warning: This article contains discussions of sensitive topics, including s*xual assault, prostitution, and explicit allegations. Reader discretion is advised. A viral podcast episode has reopened old wounds surrounding one of K-pop's darkest controversies: the Burning Sun scandal. And it's doing so with explosive claims that are reigniting debates across the industry and fandoms alike. In an episode of Above The Influence, a podcast guest, Kira, is gaining traction for her unfiltered commentary. An influencer and self-proclaimed entrepreneur, Kira made headlines after claiming she once dated BIGBANG's T.O.P. However, it wasn't the dating revelation that caused a storm online. What truly shocked listeners was what she claimed to have heard from T.O.P regarding the scandal that nearly brought down the legendary boy group. Here's the podcast clip of Kira talking about Seungri: According to Kira, T.O.P allegedly told her that fellow member Seungri became the designated scapegoat during the 2019 Burning Sun investigation. She went on to suggest that Seungri didn't take the blame entirely on his own accord. Instead, she alleged that he was paid by their agency to accept full responsibility, sparing the other members from legal repercussions. 'According to news outlets, like, he was the one that was responsible for all that so he went to jail,' Kira claimed. 'And he was like, 'Yeah, because he was the least popular one of the group, our management company collectively decided that he should take the fall, even though we were all kind of involved in it.'' She further elaborated, 'And then they, like, paid him out to go to jail, like, 'hey, since you're career was like, that great anyways how about you take all the blame, go to jail for a few years, and when you come out, we'll give you a good payout.'" About Burning Sun scandal The comments sent shockwaves through social media, with the podcast clip quickly gaining views and fueling intense speculation. The claims are especially sensitive given the magnitude of the Burning Sun scandal. The case implicated club officials, police, and entertainment figures in a web of serious crimes. They ranged from s*xual violence and drug distribution to embezzlement and illegal filming. The scandal first broke in late 2018. A man named Kim Sang Kyo alleged that he was assaulted by staff at the Burning Sun club in Gangnam after trying to help a woman being s*xually harassed. The case, which initially seemed like a routine assault investigation, quickly ballooned into a full-blown exposé of corruption and abuse. Seungri, who was one of the co-owners of the club, soon found himself at the center of multiple investigations. Authorities eventually charged him with nine criminal offenses. They include procurement of prostitution services, embezzlement, habitual overseas gambling, and violation of foreign exchange regulations. He was originally sentenced to three years in prison, later reduced to 18 months. He completed his sentence in 2023 and has since remained out of the public eye. Kira's recent remarks have poured gasoline on that fire, presenting what she described as firsthand insight from someone on the inside. Still, many are questioning her credibility. Several users online pointed out that her statement lacked evidence and could be an attempt to gain clout by exploiting a high-profile controversy.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
HyunA compares her ‘controversial' husband to Park Bo Gum's character; fans disgusted: ‘Can she just stop bringing him up?'
HyunA married Yong Jung Hyun in October 2024 and faced a lot of backlash due to the former Highlight member's involvement in the Burning Sun scandal. Now, months after her controversial wedding and fans' disappointment, she is back in the spotlight, happy and open about her personal life. On May 14, she appeared on a YouTube talk show with comedian Lee Yong Jin called Yongtarot, where she opened up about her tattoo removal process and how her insomnia is improving. The singer recently made her comeback with 'Mrs. Nail,' and fans noticed her sudden weight gain, with many suspecting she might be pregnant. HyunA revealed it is because she is happy in her marriage and even called her husband a real life 'Yang Gwan Sik'. Speaking to Lee, HyunA explained that she feels a sense of 'stability' in her life for the first time. The singer was previously dating Dawn, with whom she was in a six-year relationship, and fans hailed them as a power couple. But everything fell apart after the breakup, and fans' sentiment turned against HyunA. In her new interview, the former 4Minute star joked that she barely argues with Yong Jung Hyun because he 'wins every argument,' adding that 'all of his words have good intentions,' and he always guides her toward improving the situation. However, before she could explain further, the host stopped her midway and asked which K-drama character best reflects Yong Jung Hyun's personality. Without hesitation, she compared him to Park Bo Gum's 'Gwan Sik' from When Life Gives You Tangerines — the same K-drama that made waves globally and praised the character as a walking green forest. But HyunA's comparison didn't sit well with fans, who vented their anger and asked her to stop. Also read: HyunA and Dawn call off engagement; says they have decided to be 'good friends and colleagues' A fan wrote, 'Can she just not bring him up? Sure, being happily married might be good and meaningful for her personally, but talking about him like he's a good person isn't respectful to the victims.' Another added, 'Can she please stop praising him every time? The world saw what he did.' A third quipped, 'Leaving Dawn was her worst decision.' 'Now, I don't even want to see or hear about HyunA anymore…' The singer revealed on the talk show, 'It's been about a year since I started removing my tattoos.' She added that it was her mother's suggestion to start with a clean slate this time. 'But it's incredibly painful. I've gone through four sessions and am currently taking a break,' she said. The host then joked about the Trouble Maker crooner dropping the 'marriage bomb' suddenly, just days after confirming her relationship with Jong Hyun, and quipped, 'You dropped the 'I got married' news when we were only meeting for the third time. It's a bit one-sided, don't you think?' (translated via All Kpop). To which she replied, 'I was so nervous I had to take medication to calm myself down before coming.' When pressed about her married life and how her husband is treating her, she revealed, 'It's been wonderful. I used to struggle with insomnia before, but now I sleep soundly. Just being in the same space brings me peace.' Yong Jung Hyun debuted with the boy band Xing in 2007. Later, he joined Cube Entertainment, where he was relaunched as a member of the boy band Beast in 2009. In 2010, he collaborated with HyunA for the first time on her debut single Change, and in 2012, he released his first solo track, Living Without You. In 2016, Beast ended their contract with Cube and formed their own band called Highlight. Following this, Yong Jung Hyun released his first solo album and took a K-drama role in Coffee, Do Me a Favor. Also read: After Kim Soo Hyun, Burning Sun scandal reporter slaps YouTuber with lawsuit over 'fake' Kim Sae Ron recording However, his career was marred by allegations, and he was forced to take a hiatus between 2019 and 2021 due to his alleged involvement in South Korea's biggest sex scandal, Burning Sun, which derailed many A-listers' careers, including K-pop artists and K-drama stars. He left Highlight in 2019 after admitting to having an explicit video of Jung Joon Young with a woman that was shared with him and filmed with consent; however, he admitted the video was shared without consent. In 2022, he resumed his solo activities.
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
After Kim Soo Hyun, Burning Sun scandal reporter slaps YouTuber with lawsuit over ‘fake' Kim Sae Ron recording
Garosero and Kim Sae Ron's family attorney, Bu Ji Seok, are being heavily criticised for allegedly presenting a fabricated audio recording during their second press conference held on May 7. The recording includes Sae Ron's confession about entering a sexual relationship with actor Kim Soo Hyun at the age of 14. YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, who has been on Kim Soo Hyun's side, held another press conference, calling out the lies and claiming the audio recording was AI-generated. Since then, the whistleblower, named A, has backtracked on his claim, but tensions for Garosero have not eased. Prominent South Korean journalist Kang Kyung Yoon, famous for her coverage of South Korea's biggest scandal, the Burning Sun, has filed a lawsuit against Kim Se Ui, the head of Garosero Research Institute. According to Kang, her name was 'inappropriately' used in the recording, which she slammed as fake. Also read: 'Sent fake audio to Kim Soo Hyun': Whistleblower admits to fabricating Kim Sae Ron recording, used internet photos, blames tension with wife for confusion 'I've filed a complaint against Mr. Kim Se-ui from Garosero Research Institute. I've asked the authorities to start their investigation quickly,' the SBS reporter shared on her personal blog on May 8, according to KBIzoom. She added, 'What happened yesterday (May 7) was shocking. I never imagined Mr. Kim Se Ui would hold a press conference. I had heard about deepfakes and AI from the media, but I never thought it would happen to me.' At the press conference, the YouTuber claimed that he received a tip from a whistleblower in New Jersey, USA, who claimed to possess sensitive information regarding Kim Sae Ron's life. However, according to reporter Kang, who labelled this whistleblower a 'scammer,' he contacted her in person in April. Also read: Kim Soo Hyun says 'fraudster' contacted him first, calls out 'AI-generated' audio of Kim Sae Ron admitting to sexual relationship at age 14 Kang wrote, 'I never trust these types of informants, people after money with unclear identities. I ignored them, and I thought the people around me would do the same because the 'scammer' smell was so strong.' Garosero and attorney Bu Ji Seok released an audio that supposedly captured a conversation between the late Kim Sae Ron and the whistleblower. In the audio dated January 10, the late Bloodhound star says, 'The first time I did it with him was during winter break (referring to Kim Soo Hyun) in my second year of middle school. Thinking about it now, it was done to me. Not many people know about when I dated him in middle school, but they all reacted the same way. They asked why I just let him be.' Kang pointed out how in the recording, foul language was used, and it discussed private matters about actor Kim Soo Hyun and Kang. 'Anyone can tell that the voice of the deceased was manipulated using AI to fit someone's agenda,' the reporter claimed. Later, Kang disclosed how some friends of the late actor reached out to her to saying, 'Reporter, my friend wouldn't use such bad language', and 'We are so shocked and upset by how far this has gone.' Kang responded, 'The AI-manipulated audio is clearly fake. There's no need to analyse it further.' Earlier, Kim Soo Hyun and Gold Medalist also released a lengthy statement calling out the 'AI-generated' audio and said, 'The person who delivered the recording file has no connection to the late Kim Sae Ron. When the scam against the Gold Medalist didn't work, they conspired with Garo Sero to release a forged recording file. As mentioned before, Gold Medalist determined that the person delivering the file used AI, and is conducting technical verification of this and will share the results as soon as they become available.' Meanwhile, Kang also presented sufficient proof to show that she never travelled to New Jersey during the timeframe that Kim Se Ui claimed she was there to threaten the informant. She said, 'After watching the press conference, my husband suggested I check my immigration records.' She released her travel records from January 1 to May 5, 2025, showing she had never been to New Jersey. 'I have never been to New Jersey, USA I was suspicious of the informant and never spoke to them on the phone.' Kang gained attention after her coverage of the 2019 Burning Sun scandal, also known as the biggest sex scandal in the country that rocked the whole Korean entertainment industry, as high-profile names were released, ranging from K-drama to K-pop and movie stars, derailing many careers. Kang was the first to obtain and release forensic evidence, and her reporting played a key role in the investigation.
Time Business News
23-04-2025
- Time Business News
The Vanishing Act of Hyeji Bae: Running from Her Crimes, But Not Fast Enough
In the seedy underworld of drug runners, romance scammers, and crypto cons, one name continues to reek like rot beneath perfume: Hyeji Bae. Known for her deceptions and debauchery from Seoul to Tokyo, this elusive manipulator has finally made one major misstep—and it's not going unnoticed. Once flaunting her life under the Instagram handle @oliviahyevang, Hyeji has now panicked her way into obscurity by changing her username to the cryptic @duchgafdcf. A laughable attempt at escaping scrutiny? Absolutely. In doing so, she left her original username up for grabs, and someone with a conscience—and receipts—snatched it like a vulture circling a rotting carcass. That reclaimed tag is now being used as an open archive to expose her horrifying legacy—and let's just say, the contents are explosive. Screenshots, voice memos, transaction records—it's all there. Crimes Hyeji thought she buried are now resurrected in full view, unfiltered and undeniable. Click onto her former username now and you're no longer met with self-indulgent selfies and dishonest captions. Instead, you're dragged down the hellhole of: Drug trafficking confessions across multiple Asian countries. across multiple Asian countries. Her stint as a Piggy Cell crypto scam executive , stealing hundreds of thousands from victims. , stealing hundreds of thousands from victims. Chilling voice recordings of her boasting about smuggling substances. of her boasting about smuggling substances. Evidence of her manipulating and exploiting romantic partners , including a victim defrauded of over $500,000 USD . , including a victim defrauded of over . Her connections to the infamous Burning Sun scandal, standing side by side with disgraced figures like Seungri and known criminals like Eric Chang. What's even more telling is who Hyeji ran with. This isn't just a case of one corrupt influencer. Hyeji was frequently seen plotting and partying with Yui Miura (a serial liar and scammer), Keigo Miura (fraudster with pilot delusions), and Silverstar Oh, the DJ turned disgrace. These three helped Hyeji lie to her then-boyfriend while he unknowingly funded their crimes and hotel stays, as she snuck off to sleep with criminal flame Eric Chang behind his back. When the lies came crashing down? Hyeji didn't apologize. She did what cowards always do—she vanished. Changing your name to a mess of letters won't erase the hundreds of pages of documents, files, photos, and voice recordings that detail your destruction. This isn't just a smear campaign. This is the receipt book you authored, one lie, one scam, one manipulated soul at a time. You can run from accountability, Hyeji, but you can't outrun the internet—and you sure as hell can't outrun the people you've wronged. We see you. We remember. And now, so does the world. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
