Burning Sun Scandal update

The judge handed down sentences earlier today. The sentences are as follows:

Choi Jong-hoon (former FTIsland member): 5 years in prison, 80 hours of sexual violence education and he is banned from working anywhere with children or teenagers for 5 years.

Jung Joon-young (singer and songwriter): 6 years in prison, 80 hours of sexual violence education and he is banned from working anywhere with children or teenagers for 5 years.

“Mr. Kim” (Burning Sun’s marketing director): 5 years in prison

Kwon Hyuk-jun (older brother of Girls Generation’s Yuri): 4 years in prison

‘Heo’ (Entertainment Director): 2 years of probation and 160 hours of community service.

Note: Lee Seung-hyun aka Seungri (Former Big Bang member) who was the Publicity Manager for the Burning Sun Club was not sentenced, but has been facing charges related to brokering sexual services, by hiring prostitutes for groups of people on multiple occasions.

My thoughts: It’s sad to see anyone fall, K-stars included but Choi and Jung were found guilty of non-consensual sex and of filming sexual encounters with women without their consent (Molka) and sharing that information in a chat room for other men to watch and comment on. And the other men participated. It should go without saying that perpetrating this form of sexual violence is very wrong. And being celebrities, which we all know makes them women magnets also comes with increased responsibility to be ethical and responsible when they decide to be physical with someone. It’s too bad these guys will have to learn this lesson the hard way. But it is what it is. At least their victims will finally get some closure.

As South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in regards to the scandal “If the truth is not revealed, we cannot say it’s a just society.”

This is a great timeline of events relating to the scandal: https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8503818/burning-sun-scandal-timeline-seungri-jung-joon-young

Here is a story on the initial charges: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/14/inside-scandal-rocking-k-pop-seungri-jung-joon-young-retire-amid-prostitution-hidden-camera-allegations-8904243/

Here is information about their sentences: https://www.soompi.com/article/1368504wpp/jung-joon-young-and-choi-jong-hoon-sentenced-to-prison-for-sexual-assault

Kakao Talk chatroom participants included:  Kangin of Super Junior, Jeong Jinwoon of 2AM, Seungri of Big Bang, Singers Roy and Eddie Kim, model Lee Chulwoo and Yoo In Suk, former CEO of Yuri Holdings.