K-Pop singer Seungri sentenced to three years in prison over prostitution and gambling scandal

The ex-member of Big Bang must also pay a fine of 1.15bn won (£6,82,259) for his involvement in Burning Sun case

Former K-Pop idol Seungri has been sentenced to three years in prison by a military court on multiple charges including organising prostitution and habitual gambling.

He also has to pay a fine of 1.15bn won (£6,82,259) for his involvement in the Burning Sun case, where a number of women came forward to allege they were drugged at nightclubs and offered to wealthy businessmen to be raped.

More than 350 people were arrested in the operation, including Seungri, who held a position as part-owner and public relationships liaison of a club in Gangnam.

During the course of the investigation, police discovered an online chat group that was used to share sexually explicit videos of women without their consent or knowledge. Several high-profile K-pop stars were named by officials as members of the group.

The scandal sparked nationwide uproar and calls for a radical change in the treatment of women in South Korea’s entertainment industry.

However, during the hearings, the K-pop star, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, denied any knowledge or role in the alleged ongoings.

Along with the verdict, judge Hwang Min-je of the Common Military Court of Ground Operations Command ordered the immediate military detention of the former member of the K-pop boy band Big Bang.

According to YNA, Seungri was also charged with swindling approximately 528m won (£3,27,484) from his club funds, which he used for gambling in Las Vegas from 2013 to 2017. At the time, a combined amount of 2.2bn won (£13,64,518) was at stake.

He also allegedly breached the foreign exchange transaction act in the process.

As per Bloomberg, the scandal saw the K-pop stock market take a dive, with YG sliding as much as 14 per cent in 2019.

Many Big Bang fans are not happy with the verdict.

One fan wrote: “No matter what the outcome and the future, I will always be there by your side. Stay strong. I’m proud of you. #bigbang #seungri.”

“Imagine getting a 3 years sentence because the judge feels you are aware of your friend’s crime therefore guilty without evidence but the real criminal gets 2 years? Just like that ? I feel sad for Seungri. If he is guilty send him to jail with evidence not this !!! #SEUNGRI,” wrote another person.

One angry fan also blamed the Korean judicial system’s framework. They wrote: “Ok, the conclusion is Korean Judicial System works on feelings rather than evidence. #SeungriDeservesJustice#SEUNGRI.”