Seung-ri, one-fifth of the K-Pop collective BIGBANG, has officially quit the entertainment industry after being charged under suspicion of supplying sex workers through his Seoul nightclub.
[jwplayer Yw4q0stn]
As reported by Billboard, 28-year-old Seung-ri (aka. Lee Seung Hyun) has been identified by authorities as a major suspect for supplying sex workers to potential investors and business partners for his club, Club Arena in the Gangnam region.
The police raid of the club was conducted as part of a larger investigation, targeting illegal activity happening in Seoul’s club scene, including breaches of South Korea‘s strict anti-prostitution laws.
Seung-ri posted on his Instagram on Monday, confirming that he is leaving the entertainment industry to protect the rest of his chart-topping boy band, BIGBANG, and their management team, YG Entertainment.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu3JOlUBbVK/?utm_source=ig_embed
The post, as translated by Soompi, Seung-ri says that he will go through the investigation diligently, and “reveal all the suspicions.” He also hits back at those that have been criticising and sending him hatred, while his name has been attached to the allegations.
This is Seungri.
At this point, I think it would be best if I retire from the entertainment industry. I decided on retiring from the entertainment industry as the issues that I caused a societal disturbance with are too major. Regarding the issues that are being investigated, I will be investigated diligently and reveal all the suspicions.
Receiving criticism and hate from the public for the past month and a half and with the situation of all the investigative agencies in the country currently investigating me, I am even being cornered as a traitor of the nation. I personally cannot tolerate causing harm to everyone around me in order to save myself.
I sincerely thank all of the fans in and outside of Korea who have given me lots of love for the past 10 years, and I think this is where I stop even if it’s at least [to protect] the honor of YG and BIGBANG.
Again, I am sorry and apologize once again.
I have been thankful to everyone until now.
If found guilty of supplying sex workers, Seung-ri faces up to three years in jail, which could be an issue for his recently-announced temporary leave from BIGBANG to complete his mandatory military service from March 25.
