Former BIGBANG Seungri Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for “Burning Sun” Scandal

Former member of the legendary BIGBANG Kpop group, Seungri, has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for his “Burning Sun” prostitution scandal.

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Seungri Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for “Burning Sun” Case

Korean former singer-songwriter Lee Sung Hyun, or commonly known as Seungri, has faced 3 years prison sentence from the General Military Court for his “Burning Sun” prostitution scandal.

On August 12, Korean media reported that former BIGBANG member, Seungri, had been sentenced to 3 years in prison. Moreover, the General Military Court officially took Seungri into custody based on his illegal gambling and prostitution mediation charges.

Developing story out of Korea: #Kpop star Seungri of BIGBANG appears to have been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement with the controversial "Burning Sun" scandal

Source: https://t.co/1XUNB5G9zy
— Jeff Benjamin (@Jeff__Benjamin) August 12, 2021

Seungri Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison Plus Additional Monetary Penalty for “Burning Sun”

In addition to the above sentence, the military court also required Seungri to pay a monetary penalty of 1.15 billion Won ($988,627.17 USD).

According to the court, Seungri has been “repeatedly arranging prostitution for foreign investors and benefited from it. The crimes committed by the accused, who commercialized sex and violated customs, are not small in social harm.”

#Seungri was sentenced to 3 years in prison and ordered to fine 1.15B won for his involvement in the Burning Sun case.https://t.co/QzxRvRSX5b pic.twitter.com/ayp5xrlPGE
— Yoo Nabi (@NoonaChronicles) August 12, 2021

Statement of Apology from Former BIGBANG member, Seungri

Before the court ruled the sentence of 3 years in prison for Seungri, the former singer-songwriter teared up and apologized to his former boy group and agency, BIGBANG and YG Entertainment, on July 1.

“I have been reflecting on myself for the past three years, and I promise I will be reborn from this.
I am sorry to have caused concern to the people of the country. I’m sorry to my fans, my family, BIGBANG, and YG Entertainment.”
Lee Sung Hyun, a.k.a Seungri.

According to Seungri’s legal counsel, the court had charged Seungri based on the public opinion of him. Therefore, he asked that the investigation should only continue based on tangible evidences.

“This trial is only a threat to force a prominent celebrity to kneel down while shouting at him ‘you know your sins, now reflect on them.’”
Seungri’s legal counsel.

The “Burning Sun” Scandal

Previously, the “Burning Sun” scandal started in 2019 after Seungri was arrested under multiple warrants, including procurement and mediation of prostitution, embezzlement of business funds, evidence destruction attempts, distribution of illegally filmed footage, illegally filming women, illegal gambling, and violating food sanitation laws.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has discovered that Seungri and Yoo In Suk embezzled more than 1 billion won from Burning Sun

It was also revealed they colluded w/ Madam Lin in embezzlement, even when BS was at a deficit

Police will hand over the case to prosecution soon pic.twitter.com/4MG3ZZQAmE
— mes #TeamPinky (@OH_mes2) June 19, 2019

After his arrest, the former BIGBANG singer-songwriter underwent an extensive process of trial and investigation. However, in 2020, Seungri decided to enlist in the military, raising concerns about him trying to escape from his sentence. The case then continued in the military court.

Seungri's case regarding Burning Sun has been transferred to the military courthttps://t.co/wbVXj2Ju97 pic.twitter.com/inVPAfFDA8
— mes #TeamPinky (@OH_mes2) May 18, 2020

Over the years, Seungri kept denying all his charges during all 24 trials that occurred in the past two years. Therefore, the prosecution demanded 5 years in prison and doubled the existing fine because Seungri had not shown any remorse and kept passing the blame without reflection.

At the same time, since all the other related suspects had taken a share of the profits and considered that Seungri hadn’t had any priors, the military court sentenced Seungri to 3 years in prison.

Fans Keep Rooting for Seungri

Regarding the “Burning Sun” case, fans keep believing that Seungri has little involvement in the case. Therefore, fans keep cheering and rooting for Seungri and they will be waiting for his comeback.

SEUNGRI DOESN'T DESERVE THIS!!!! He's not guilty technically based on the evidences but he still going to prison? wtf sokor?!???
— AJ Seunie ♡ | ????? (@tophaehyunson) August 12, 2021

Seungri is sentenced to 3 years prison. Over what? I don't even know. All he admitted was to gambling and they even need to punish him for that? Everybody does it! ??
— ? 小白兔_Lil'Rabbit ? (@LilRabb1999) August 12, 2021

I would've been okay with the decision if they found Seungri guilty based on all the evidences that were presented BUT they didn't. And yet here they are giving him prison time even after the lack of evidence re: his involvement in the prostitution case.
— 알렉사 (@ALEXAsaki) August 12, 2021

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 pic.twitter.com/BobPGXOizL
— Kat⁷ (@yoongspired) March 11, 2019

We hope all the best for Seungri and all his future endeavors. Meanwhile, let’s reminisce about the good old days with below BIGBANG MV.