The Burning Sun scandal , also known as Burning Sun gate , [1] [2] is a entertainment and sex scandal in Seoul, South Korea, which involved several celebrities, including Korean idols of popular K-pop groups, and police officials. It was the largest scandal to hit the K-pop industry. The allegations of sex crimes involved added to the country's "epidemic" of what is called molka , a Korean word for the online distribution of unconsented sex videos taken of women, and the scandal became fodder for political parties, who argued over how to handle it. It began on January 28, , when MBC Newsdesk reported a November alleged assault of a male clubgoer at the Burning Sun, a prominent nightclub in Gangnam , by a staff member. The scandal quickly encompassed allegations of rape and spy cams when singer and entertainer Jung Joon-young confessed to secretly filming himself having sex with women and sharing the videos, without their knowledge or consent, in the Jung Joon-young KakaoTalk chatrooms , and he resigned from the entertainment industry on March While looking into the Burning Sun scandal, SBS funE had discovered videos dated from to , as well as conversations he shared in chat groups on the social media app KakaoTalk with Seungri, and acquaintances. Island resigned from their positions, after allegations they were participants in the chatrooms, [15] [16] and the agency for Lee Jong-hyun of CNBLUE admitted his involvement on March On International Women's Day on March 8, the scandal led to a street protest in Gangnam against the Burning Sun and other nightclubs, calling for an end to what the protesters called a culture that treats women as sexual objects.
K-pop scandal reveals South Korea's sexism problem
9. Seo Ha Joon’s masturbating video scandal
According to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom, Mr Moon gave the orders in connection with cases involving late actress Jang Ja-yeon, former vice justice minister Kim Hak-eui, and the ongoing investigation surrounding the nightclub Burning Sun. Mr Moon was also quoted as saying that unless the truth about these cases is revealed, the police and prosecution cannot regain their credibility and that Korea will remain an unjust society. The future of the organisations is on the line. Ms Jang took her own life on March 9, , at the age of At the time, it was revealed that the actress left several pages of handwritten notes detailing sexual and physical abuse by powerful figures. The notes also included a list of people she said she was coerced to have sex with, including members of the founding family of the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
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While the industry mostly projects a wholesome image on stage and screen, a series of scandals, public personal breakdowns and untimely celebrity deaths this year has drawn attention to the darker side of the culture. June: Yang Hyun-suk, founder of YG Entertainment, which managed Seungri and other K-pop artists, stepped down from his duties as chief producer, in the aftermath of drug and sex scandals. October: Choi Jin-ri, a former member of girl group f x who went by the stage name Sulli, died in apparent suicide. She had spoken out against cyberbullying, having become the target of criticism after she spoke out about not wearing a bra in the conservative K-pop industry. November: K-pop singer Koo Hara was found dead in her home. Police found a handwritten note in which she expressed despair. She had been subjected to vicious attacks online about her relationships with men, local media said. November: K-pop musician Jung Joon-young was sentenced to six years in prison for raping a woman and distributing a video showing the act. Choi Jong-hoon, 30, a former member of South Korean boy band FT Island, was sentenced to five years prison for the rape of the woman. Both men were members of online chat groups that shared secret sex videos and made jokes about drugging and raping women, the court said.
In , the CEO of Open World Entertainment , Jang Seok Woo , was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing female trainees and coercing male idols signed to his agency to do so as well. Police interviewed over 20 people they believed to be victims. As the investigation continued, they found evidence that Jang Seok Woo had drugged and raped the trainees since Police also found evidence that the CEO coerced some of the male idols to take part in the abuse. At first, Jang Suk Woo denied all charges but has since admitted to committing some of the crimes. The incident occurred in early As the story goes, K set up a meeting with Park Shi Hoo and the trainee. He was later called in for questioning and the story exploded in the news. After denying the rape allegations Park Shi Hoo raised a case of defamation against A, but his acting career began to suffer from the accusations. He then stepped out of the spotlight until charges were dropped later that year.
