This is a condensed update on everyone who is directly involved in, and/or has been directly affected by, Seungri’s scandal. For the full in-depth story, click here.

 

Seungri (Lee Seung Hyun)

Lee Seung Hyun, age 28, is a former member of BIGBANG and a former co-owner of club Burning Sun. He is better known by his stage name, Seungri.

Past Scandals

• In 2012, an anonymous woman went to the Japanese media about her one night stand with Seungri. Along with images of Seungri asleep in bed, she accused him of being rough during sex, and not kissing her once.
• The situation was made worse when Seungri and Japanese model Anna Kubo were photographed in Hong Kong acting like a couple. This scandal was quickly dismissed, however, when YG Entertainment explained that Anna Kubo and Seungri had just finished filming for a Japanese drama, and that they were just close friends.

Involvement In This Scandal

• Seungri is a former co-owner of club Burning Sun, which is currently under investigation for illegal activities including drug use and date rapes. On November 24, 2018, a man named Kim Sang Kyo was assaulted inside the club and outside the club by multiple Burning Sun employees when he stepped in to help a woman who was being sexually harassed.
• Seungri has been accused of being part of one or more KakaoTalk chatrooms, along with multiple celebrities. In these chatrooms, illegal activities were allegedly discussed and shared. This includes hidden sex cams secretly taken of women, date rape, drug usage, police corruption, and gambling.
• He has been accused of procuring and offering prostitutes to rich investors. Chat logs now indicate this began as early as 2014.
• He has been accused of taking part in habitual overseas gambling. Gambling, even if done by Korean citizens in countries where gambling is legal, is punishable by law in Korea.
• On March 20, MBN revealed a new exclusive report that an anonymous informant has come forth to police. The informant claims Seungri had prostitutes and cocaine at his 2017 birthday party in the Philippines. Some of the sex workers he provided at his party are reportedly being investigated by the police at the moment.

Fallout From The Scandal

• In late January, Seungri resigned from directorship of club Burning Sun.
• Seungri was subjected to a drug test, which YG Entertainment claims came back negative.
• In February, Seungri resigned from his post as an executive director at his Japanese ramen restaurant chain, Aori Ramen.
• On March 11, Seungri announced his retirement from the K-Pop industry. His exclusive contract with YG Entertainment was later terminated, and he is now no longer a member of BIGBANG.
• As of March 2019, Seungri’s military enlistment has been postponed for 3 months, until June 25.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• Seungri has denied all allegations of soliciting prostitutes, drug usage, gambling abroad, tax evasion, and collusion with police.
• He has agreed to cooperate in ongoing police investigations. He has also given written and spoken apologies to his supporters for all the disappointment and grief this scandal has caused.

Police Investigations

• On February 27, Seungri reported to the police station to take part in an investigation launched about his recent scandals regarding drugs, corruptions, and offering prostitutes as entertainment.
• On March 9, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency booked Seungri without detention for soliciting prostitution, and have since launched a full investigation.
• On March 13, Seungri arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Station to be questioned and investigated for his role in the hidden camera chatroom and soliciting prostitution, among other accused crimes.
• On March 19 it was reported that a club Burning Sun official gave a testimony to police, revealing that Seungri was indeed on drugs when he was at the club. According to the report, the police believe that the testimony is credible, but they are having difficulty fully investigating the drug accusations since no time or location was disclosed.

Where Is He Now?

• Seungri was originally supposed to leave for his mandatory military service on March 25, but the date was postponed until June 25. He is now taking part in police investigations as a suspect.

 

Jung Joon Young

Jung Joon Young, age 30, is the former lead vocalist of rock band Drug Restaurant, previously known as JJY Band.

Past Scandals

• In 2016, Jung Joon Young was accused of filming a hidden sex video of his then-girlfriend, but the police failed to find the video on his phone, which ultimately led to his acquittal.
• In 2018, he was accused of filming another hidden video, but he was once again acquitted after the prosecution dismissed the search warrant. They claimed there were “no circumstances of him trying to circulate it”.

Connection To Seungri

• Seungri and Jung Joon Young were part of the same highly controversial chatroom that shared hidden camera footage of sexual acts, discussed drug usage, police connections, and more. Jung Joon Young also created many other chatrooms, which Seungri may or may not have been a part of as well.

Involvement In This Scandal

• Starting in 2015, Jung Joon Young created and shared hidden sex videos of women in the chatroom. He also shared naked footage and photos of a sleeping woman from a hostess bar in 2016.
• In these chatrooms, he participated in conversations about sex, rape, drugs, and other illegal activities.
• He has been accused of manipulating his victims into sleeping with him by promising to help them become celebrities.
• News reports revealed chatlogs that link Jung Joon Young to the sex trade and to sex tourism. Due to Korea’s nationality principle, a Korean person can be punished under Korean law once their involvement in sex tourism is confirmed.

Fallout From The Scandal

• Following news of his involvement, Jung Joon Young canceled all of his schedules and returning to Korea from the United States to begin participating in police investigations.
• He was removed from the cast of tvN‘s cooking variety show 4 Wheeled Restaurant Season 3, which he had been filming in San Francisco at the time his involvement was revealed.
• Videos that Jung Joon Young illegally filmed have allegedly been leaked and spread through Airdrop.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• Jung Joon Young has admitted to all charges and has agreed to cooperate fully with police investigations. He has made an apology to his victims, supporters, and all who have been affected by his crimes.

Police Investigations

• On March 12, Jung Joon Young was charged for filming and circulating hidden sex cams of 10 women within the period of 10 months in 2015.
• On March 14, he reported to the police for an investigation and was sent home the next day. During this investigation, he submitted his “golden phone” to police.
• He has submitted 3 phones to the police in total, but police reportedly searched his home for 3 hours to see if there were more phones Jung Joon Young hadn’t submitted.
• As of March 18, the regional investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has applied for an arrest warrant for Jung Joon Young, for violating the Act on Sexual Crimes of Violence.

Where Is He Now?

• Jung Joon Young is currently under investigation. Police have applied for a warrant for his arrest.

Choi Jonghoon

Choi Jonghoon, age 29, is a former member of FTISLAND.

Past Scandals

• 3 years ago, Choi Jonghoon was caught drunk driving. Instead of facing punishment and backlash from the public, he was allegedly let off by police. Choi Jonghoon and the police who allowed him to go free allegedly knew each other from the same chatroom.

Connection To Seungri

• He is believed to be a member of Seungri’s and Jung Joong Young’s illicit chatrooms.

Involvement In This Scandal

• Choi Jonghoon is accused of being a member of Jung Joon Young’s chatrooms, in which illegal activities were shared and discussed.
• In April 2016, he allegedly shared illegally-taken photos of a sleeping woman in Jung Joon Young’s chatroom. After revealing the identity of the woman, he is said to have made comments on the woman’s body along with other members of the group chat.
• He has been accused of asking the police to cover up his DUI incident, which occurred 3 years ago.

Fallout From The Scandal

• On March 14, FNC Entertainment announced Choi Jonghoon will be departing from FTISLAND and retiring from the K-Pop industry.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• Through a statement made by FNC Entertainment, Choi Jonghoon admitted to his DUI, but denied police collusion.
• However, when SBS asked Choi Jonghoon about his ties with Yoo In Suk, and if they had any ties to the police, he confirmed that they did.

Police Investigations

• He has been charged for circulating illegal photos in Jung Joon Young’s chatrooms.
• Police revealed his hidden DUI at an emergency press conference and are now investigating.
• Choi Jonghoon revealed that he played golf with the “police chief” mentioned in the chatlogs early in 2018 and stated that Yoo In Suk as well as his wife, Park Han Byul, were present at the gathering.

Where Is He Now?

• Choi Jonghoon recently reported to police for questioning. He has promised to be sincere throughout the investigations.

 

Yoo In Suk, also known as Mr. Yoo

Yoo In Suk, known as “Mr. Yoo” in the chatlogs, is the former CEO of Yuri Holdings and the husband of actress Park Han Byul.

Connection To Seungri

• News reports have named Yoo In Suk as one of the main culprits behind the highly controversial chatrooms, along with Seungri and Jung Joon Young. He and Seungri allegedly solicited prostitutes for investors.

Involvement In This Scandal

• SBS named CEO Yoo as the “Key Man” behind the chatrooms dealing with police cohesion, bribery, prostitution, and more.
• He reportedly worked behind the scenes to keep all of the scandals hushed throughout the years.
• CEO Yoo and Seungri set up Yuri Holdings together as co-CEOs. Around that time, the chatrooms first began where CEO Yoo took charge in delegating tasks for preparing sexual entertainment for multiple business partners.
• The chatrooms also showed that he was the one who covered up Choi Jonghoon‘s DUI incident, as well as the middle man between celebrities and the police. The celebrities in the chatroom called him “boss” as they showed their respect.
• Choi Jonghoon revealed that he played golf with the “police chief” mentioned in the chatlogs early in 2018 and stated that Yoo In Suk as well as his wife, Park Han Byul, were present at the gathering in Malaysia.

Fallout From The Scandal

• Yoo In Suk’s wife, Park Han Byul, began receiving backlash from the public when Choi Jonghoon revealed that she had been present at the golf game with her husband and others involved in the case. She released an apology to fans.
•  Yoon In Suk has been banned from traveling until investigations conclude.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• When SBS reporters visited Yuri Holdings to ask about the suspicions and charges, CEO Yoo denied all of it. He claimed the “chat logs were exaggerated because of [his] younger friends’ immaturity” and that the chats “are not true“.
• When he was called in for questioning by the police, he stated that he has been in contact with the general commander of a police unit.
• On March 19, Yoo In Suk released an apology and revealed details regarding the controversies he is involved in.

Police Investigations

• Yoo In Suk reported to the police on March 14 and was investigated for various suspicions including drug charges, solicitation, and police collusion. During this process, it was revealed that he contacted Superintendent Yoon (the “police chief” in the chatlogs).

Where Is He Now?

• Yoo In Suk is currently under investigation as a key figure in the suspicions of police collusion.

 

Superintendent Yoon 

The “police chief” mentioned in Seungri’s chatrooms who is suspected of corruption.

Past Scandals

• 3 years ago, Choi Jonghoon was caught drunk driving. Instead of facing punishment and backlash from the public, he was let off by police. Superintendent Yoon is reportedly the police officer who covered up the DUI.
• In 2016, Seungri opened a restaurant called Monkey Museum in Gangnam. The restaurant received a sanction and fine for food sanitation violations but investigators now suspect that the incident was covered up due to police bribery. Superintendent Yoon and Yoo In Suk are two key figures in this case, which is why they are banned from traveling until investigations conclude.

Connection To Seungri

• He is believed to be a member of Seungri’s and Jung Joong Young’s illicit chatrooms.

Involvement In This Scandal

• He has been accused of covering up the illegal activities that were discussed and took place in the chatroom.
• Choi Jonghoon revealed that he played golf in Malaysia with Superintendent Yoon and Yoo In Suk, both of whom were involved in the chatrooms. The circumstances surrounding the foreign trip are being investigated by police.

Fallout From The Scandal

• Superintendent Yoon has been banned from traveling until investigations conclude.

Police Investigations

• After Superintendent Yoon was revealed to be the “police chief” in the chatroom he came under investigation for corruption.
• Superintendent Yoon’s wife, Chief Superintendent Kim, is in the process of being booked by police for possible corruption ties to Seungri.

Where Is He Now?

• Investigations on Superintendent Yoon are ongoing.

 

Mr. Kim

Mr. Kim is a former Burning Sun employee who was employed as the club’s MD.

Connection To Seungri

• Mr. Kim is believed to be one of the 8 major participants in Seungri’s chatroom.

Involvement In This Scandal

• In late February, a 2015 chatroom conversation between Seungri, singer “C”,  Yoo In Suk, and Employee “Kim” came to light. In it, Seungri ordered Mr. Kim to prepare “the main seat” at club ARENA (a club Seungri frequented) and to “bring girls” believed to be prostitutes.
• Mr. Kim was also involved with viewing and sharing hidden cam sex videos in Jung Joon Young’s chatrooms. Mr. Kim was allegedly Jung Joon Young’s biggest “hidden camera mate”. Over a span of 10 months, the two reportedly filmed a total of 10 hidden cameras (videos and pictures).
• On April 17, 2016, Mr. Kim reportedly uploaded a video of himself engaging in sexual relations to the group chat. The woman in the video had fainted.

Police Investigations

• Further details about Mr. Kim’s identity and the police’s investigation of him have not yet been reported.

Where Is He Now?

• Mr. Kim’s whereabouts have not yet been reported.

 

 

YG Entertainment / Yang Hyun Suk 

Yang Hyun Suk, age 49, is the founder of YG Entertainment and is currently its chief producer.

Connection To Seungri

• Seungri was formerly a member of BIGBANG, a boy group produced by YG Entertainment. Seungri debuted under YG Entertainment in 2006.

Involvement In This Scandal

• While Seungri was participating in a police investigation for nearly 9 hours, YG Entertainment hired a specialty disposal company to destroy company documents and files. The agency claimed it was a routine disposal.
• Soon after Seungri announced his retirement on March 12, YG Entertainment revealed that they had terminated Seungri’s contract.
• MBN claims that an unnamed former employee at YG Entertainment (referred to as Mr. B) was involved in Seungri’s chatroom.
• Reports have claimed that YG Entertainment founder Yang Hyun Suk and his brother Yang Min Suk are evading taxes by registering their clubs as restaurants, not adult entertainment businesses. The Yang brothers’ company for these clubs, Corporation A, own at least 4 clubs, including Love Signal, Gabbia, Moon Night and Samgeori Byulbam.

Fallout From The Scandal

• Shareholders of YG Entertainment stocks plummeted in value by over 25% since the scandal surrounding Seungri began. Massive international conglomerates like LVMH have pulled their investment from YG Entertainment following the outbreak of the scandal. The company has lost just over 55 billion Won ($48.5 million) in investments so far.
• On March 11, YG Entertainment ended their day with their stocks at 37,150 KRW (about $32). This shift in stock price was a 14.10% drop since the day before. The drop is estimated to have caused a loss of over 100 million dollars.
• On March 20, it was reported that YG Entertainment shareholders will soon be holding a meeting to vote on whether they should remove Yang Hyun Suk and Yang Min Suk from their leadership positions within the company.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• In an official statement, released on January 31, Yang Hyun Suk addressed Kim Sang Kyo‘s assault at the Burning Sun. He stated that Seungri was not at the club at the time of Kim Sang Kyo’s assault.
• On February 25, YG Entertainment released an official statement claiming that the messages about Seungri offering prostitutes to investors had been fabricated.

Police Investigations

• Seoul Central District Prosecutors received a request from the National People’s Rights Commission to investigate Yang Hyun Suk, CEO of YG Entertainment, in connection to Seungri’s scandal. After reviewing the files, the detective team reportedly agreed on the need to investigate Yang Hyun Suk.
• Soon after this news was published, Yang Hyun Suk claimed he had not received any official notice for investigations.
• As of March 19, National Tax Service (NTS) has officially started their investigation on YG Entertainment, sending an investigator to the YG Entertainment headquarters in Mapo-gu to secure tax documents from the company.

Where Is He Now?

• YG Entertainment and Yang Hyun Suk will be reportedly taking part in investigations concerning tax evasion.

 

Lee Jonghyun

Lee Jonghyun, age 28, is the lead guitarist and vocalist of CNBLUE.

Connection To Seungri

• Lee Jonghyun was a member of the chatroom where Jung Joon Young shared hidden camera sex videos with Seungri and other chatroom participants.

Involvement In This Scandal

• In the chatroom(s), Lee Jonghyun and Jung Joon Young discussed their sex with different girls and objectified the women using vulgar language.

Fallout From The Scandal

• Despite the backlash he has received, Lee Jonghyun has announced no plans to leave CNBLUE. In an apology statement, he said that he would be reflecting on his actions and halting activities.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• When Lee Jonghyun was first accused of being involved in Jung Joon Young’s hidden cam chatrooms, Lee Jonghyun’s agency (FNC Entertainment) released a statement denying his involvement. The statement was made on March 12.
• On March 15, FNC Entertainment released another statement about Lee Jonghyun that revealed his wrongdoings. Lee Jonghyun has admitted to watching the illegally filmed videos by Jung Joon Young and has made an apology.

Police Investigations

• Lee Jonghyun has agreed to cooperate with all police investigations.

Where Is He Now?

• Lee Jonghyun is currently serving in the military.

 

Yong Junhyung

Yong Junhyung, age 29,  is a former member of HIGHLIGHT.

Connection To Seungri

• Yong Junhyung was originally accused of being a member of Seungri and Jung Joon Young’s chatrooms. He was not a member of these chatrooms, but he did exchange messages with Jung Joon Young elsewhere.

Involvement In This Scandal

• When news of the Seungri’s controversial chatroom broke, reports later labeled one of the participants as “singer Yong.” Since Yong is not a common family name in Korea, netizens soon began speculating that “singer Yong” was HIGHLIGHT’s Yong Junhyung.

Fallout From The Scandal

• On March 14, Yung Junhyung announced that he will be leaving HIGHLIGHT.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• Yong Junhyung and his agency, Around Us Entertainment, denied that he had been in the chatroom. They claimed he only engaged in one-on-one messages with Jung Joon Young.
• When Yong Junghyung announced that he would be leaving HIGHLIGHT, he admitted to viewing a video that Jung Joon Young had illegally filmed and taking part in “inappropriate conversations” with him.
• He stated, however, that he had never taken hidden camera videos himself or shared them.

Police Investigations

• Currently unknown/unreported.

Where Is He Now?

• Yung Junhyung has left HIGHLIGHT. His future activities are unknown.

 

Mr. A and Mr. B

Mr. A is reportedly a relative of a girl group member. Mr. B is a former YG Entertainment employee.

Connection To Seungri

• Mr. A and Mr. B were allegedly 2 of the 8 participants in Seungri’s chatroom.

Involvement In This Scandal

• When MBN revealed the identities of all 8 members of the original hidden camera chatroom, Mr. A and Mr. B were among them. When MBN’s article was originally published, it stated that the relative of the girl group member was Kwon Hyuk Joon, Girls’ Generation’s Yuri’s brother, but this has since been edited out of the article.

What They Have Said About The Accusations

• Kwon Hyuk Joon, who was originally thought to be Mr. A, has denied being involved in the chatroom. He personally responded to a netizen who accused him of being Mr. A and revealed that he has been cooperating with the recent investigations.

Police Investigations

• Neither Mr. A nor Mr. B’s identities have been revealed. Their involvement in police investigations have not been confirmed yet.

Where Are They Now?

• Their whereabouts have not been reported.

Cha Tae Hyun

Cha Tae Hyun, age 42, is an actor and a former cast member of the variety show 2 Days & 1 Night.

Connection To Seungri

• Cha Tae Hyun is not directly connected to Seungri’s scandal. Accusations of gambling have instead linked him to Jung Joon Young.

Involvement In This Scandal

• Cha Tae Hyun and Kim Jun Ho were both 1 Night 2 Days cast members with Jung Joon Young in 2016. Chat messages from July 2016 revealed that Jung Joon Young, Kim Jun Ho, and Cha Tae Hyun discussed gambling on golf together.

Fallout From The Scandal

• Cha Tae Hyun issued a formal letter of apology and announced his intention to leave the cast of each of his variety shows, including 2 Days & 1 Night.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• He has insisted that the controversial golf game in which the gambling took place was a friendly game that took place in Korea. He said that the money was immediately returned afterward.
• He has also issued a former letter of apology through his agency.

Police Investigations

• Currently unreported/unknown.

Where Is He Now?

• He has left his current programs. 2 Days & 1 Night has gone on an indefinite hiatus following the revelations surrounding Jung Joon Young.

 

Kim Jun Ho

Kim Jun Ho, age 43, is a comedian, singer and television personality known for starring in the shows Gag Concert and 2 Days & 1.

Connection To Seungri

• Kim Jun Ho is not directly connected to Seungri’s scandal. Accusations of gambling have instead linked him to Jung Joon Young.

Involvement In This Scandal

• Kim Jun Ho’s involvement is tied to gambling. He and Cha Tae Hyun were both 1 Night 2 Days cast members with Jung Joon Young in 2016. Messages from July 2016 revealed that Jung Joon Young, Kim Jun Ho, and Cha Tae Hyun discussed gambling on golf together.

Fallout From The Scandal

• Kim Jun Ho made a formal letter of apology through his agency and has left his current programs.

What He Has Said About The Accusations

• He has insisted that the controversial golf game in which the gambling took place was a friendly game that took place in Korea. He said that the money was immediately returned afterward.
• He has also issued a former letter of apology through his agency.

Police Investigations

• Currently unreported/unknown.

Where Is He Now?

• Kim Jun Ho’s agency has reported that they are currently looking into the situation and have not made an official statement at this time. 2 Days & 1 Night has gone on an indefinite hiatus following the revelations surrounding Jung Joon Young.