SEOUL, South Korea: After their stunning retirement announcements, two K-pop stars including a member of the superstars Big Bang are facing police questioning over a series of interlocking scandals that have roiled South Korea for weeks.
Live TV footage showed solo singer Jung Joon-young arriving at a Seoul police station on Thursday where more than 100 journalists gathered to wait for appearance. Police have alleged 29-year-old Jung secretly filmed himself having sex with about 10 women and shared the footage with friends by a mobile messenger app.
“I feel very sorry for causing concerns to the people and will faithfully undergo an investigation,” Jung told reporters before entering the police station.
Jung on Wednesday issued a statement saying he admits to having videotaped such footage without consent from the women on the clips and that “I get down on my knees and apologize” to the victims and all others disappointed and angered over his acts. He said he would stop all his activities in the entertainment industry.
Jung’s scandal flared while police were investigating his friend, K-pop star and entrepreneur Seungri, over an allegation that he attempted to provide prostitutes to his business investors.
Prostitution is illegal in South Korea, but illicit sex businesses thrive in the shadows in the country. Toughening laws and police crackdowns have forced out traditional red-light districts throughout South Korea, but men can still easily buy sex at massage parlors and barber shops, and through online sites.
Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, is to appear at the police station later Thursday. He was allegedly among eight men on a Kakao Talk group chatroom where Jung posted his sex videos.
Seung-ri has denied the allegations against him, but the 28-year-old on Monday announced his retirement as his scandals grew.
Seungri is a big name in South Korea’s entertainment industry, as part of the five-member Big Bang, one of the most successful bands in K-pop. Since its debut in 2006, Big Bang has attracted huge, loyal followings in Asia and around the world. Forbes magazine reported in June 2016 the band took home $44 million in pretax earnings in the previous year, more than the $33.5 million collected by then the highest-paid American all-male arena pop group, Maroon 5.
A series of recent scandals has exposed the dark side of South Korea’s booming yet ultra-competitive entertainment industry. South Korean pop songs, TV dramas and films are hugely popular in Asia and beyond, but male stars have faced allegations of sexual assault and abuse and reports have been made that female trainees forced to provide sexual services to men in power.
Many K-pop stars are recruited by talent agencies as teenagers, some elementary school students, and they often sleep, eat and train together before making a debut. Some suicides have occurred among celebrities in the industry.
Some observers say the ongoing scandals also reflect a bigger social problem of rampant sexual crimes against women.
S. Korean police questioning 2 K-pop stars in sex scandals
S. Korean police questioning 2 K-pop stars in sex scandals
Sydney man jailed for mailing reptiles in popcorn bags
- The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said
SYDNEY: A Sydney man who tried to post native lizards, dragons and other reptiles out of Australia in bags of popcorn and biscuit tins has been sentenced to eight years in jail, authorities said Tuesday.
The eight-year term handed down on Friday was a record for wildlife smuggling, federal environment officials said.
A district court in Sydney gave the man, 61-year-old Neil Simpson, a non-parole period of five years and four months.
Investigators recovered 101 Australian reptiles from seized parcels destined for Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Romania, the officials said in a statement.
The animals — including shingleback lizards, western blue-tongue lizards, bearded dragons and southern pygmy spiny-tailed skinks — were posted in 15 packages between 2018 and 2023.
“Lizards, skinks and dragons were secured in calico bags. These bags were concealed in bags of popcorn, biscuit tins and a women’s handbag and placed inside cardboard boxes,” the statement said.
The smuggler had attempted to get others to post the animals on his behalf but was identified by government investigators and the New South Wales police, it added.
Three other people were convicted for taking part in the crime.
The New South Wales government’s environment department said that “the illegal wildlife trade is not a victimless crime,” harming conservation and stripping the state “and Australia of its unique biodiversity.”
