BBC‘s new Burning Sun documentary highlights one of the biggest K-pop scandals involving multiple idols. The documentary shows how two female Korean journalists helped bring justice to women who were victims of the scandal. Some K-pop idols involved in the Burning Sun controversy include former BigBang star Seungri, Choi Jong-Hoon, and singer Jung Joon-Young.
The Burning Sun case caught the attention of the world in 2019 when Seungri and some of his friends in a ‘group chat’ were accused of recording and distributing ‘molka,’ a crime that was prevalent in South Korea. ‘Molka’ refers to the illegal act of recording voyeuristic videos and images without the consent of the person. Seungri’s charges also include other crimes, such as procuring prostitution for himself and others.
Which K-pop idols are linked to Burning Sun Scandal & where are they now?
The controversial Burning Sun case sheds light on the hidden lives of some of the biggest Korean celebrities involved in several illegal cases. The chatroom, later known as the Burning Sun chatroom, involved K-pop idols such as Seungri, Jung Joon-Young, and Choi Jong-Hoon. According to reports, the chatroom had several illegally recorded videos of women. Furthermore, the BBS documentary shows some K-pop idols actively sharing and commenting on the videos.
Several idols who were a part of the Burning Sun scandal received jail sentences as punishment. The court proved Seungri guilty of nine separate charges, and he served 18 months in prison. He finished his jail term on February 10, 2023. After getting out of prison, Seungri did not appear publicly, but reports stated he was partying and playing BigBang songs in Cambodia.
The Burning Sun chat also exposed Choi Jong Hoon’s earlier actions. The former FTISLAND singer was involved in a drunk driving case in 2016, but it was not disclosed to the public due to his connections in the police force. In addition, the singer’s other charges include sharing and viewing illegally hidden camera footage and group sexual assault of drunk women in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, in January 2016 and Daegu in March 2016, Soompi reported. Consequently, he left FTISLAND and announced his retirement from the entertainment industry in 2019.
After years of hiatus, Choi Jong Hoon tried to return to the entertainment industry in 2024. According to Korean media reports, he made an account on Japan’s fan community platform FANICON. He greeted fans, saying, “It’s been about five years since I greeted you all. I drew strength from each of your messages, allowing me to show a healthier version of myself. I am truly thankful.”
Jung Joon-Young, one of the Korean singers who received five years in jail, completed his sentence in 2024. His charges included filming and spreading illegal hidden camera footage. Reports claim that after finishing his sentence, he is actively trying to return to the music scene as a producer. The report explained that Jung Joon-Young has recently met music industry professionals and expressed his desire to create music as a producer.
Other K-pop idols who did not face prison but underwent drastic career changes due to the controversy include ex-Highlight member Yong Junhyung. He was not a chatroom member but received illegally hidden camera footage from Jung Joon Youngon. The artist left Highlight after the controversies emerged in 2019.
