Burning Sun: The Real Story of K-pop Idols – A BBC Documentary

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Power in the K-pop world can corrupt, and the 2024 BBC Eye documentary — Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-pop Chat Group — sheds light on this issue by exploring the 2019 sex and drug scandal involving prominent K-pop idols, including Seungri, a former member of the K-pop boy band BIGBANG. The documentary has quickly gained traction, amassing over 1.6 million views on YouTube just two days after its release on 19 May 2024.

What is Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-pop Chat Group about?

The documentary by BBC World Service’s investigative team delves into the harrowing first-person accounts of Park Hyo-sil and Kang Kyung-yoon, two courageous Korean journalists who faced personal repercussions for uncovering the sexual assault perpetrated by Seungri and his associates, as well as the illicit activities linked to Seoul’s VIP nightclub, Burning Sun.

How did the Burning Sun K-pop scandal begin?

The scandal first came to light in September 2016 when Park Hyo-sil reported on K-pop artist Jung Joon-young’s alleged secret recording of his girlfriend during sex, a crime known as “molka” in South Korea. Subsequent investigations revealed that Jung, Seungri, and Choi Jong-hoon were part of a clandestine K-pop chat group on KakaoTalk, where they were involved in drugging and sexually assaulting women at Burning Sun nightclub in Gangnam, Seoul.

The revelations from the documentary exposed the disturbing exchanges between the idols, including discussions of gang rape and sharing illicit footage of victims. The scandal also implicated a senior police official, Yoon Gyu-geun, who was accused of protecting the K-pop stars involved.

What happened to BIGBANG’s Seungri and the other convicted K-pop idols?

Jung Joon-young was sentenced to five years in prison for gang rape and molka, while Choi Jong-hoon received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in the crimes. Seungri faced multiple charges, including sexual bribery, gambling, and embezzlement, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence and a fine upon appeal. Yoon Gyu-geun, the senior police official, was arrested for bribery and favoritism towards the Burning Sun club.

What happened to the two journalists?

Following their investigative work on the Burning Sun scandal, journalists Park and Jung faced severe backlash, including death threats and harassment from fans of the convicted idols. Park suffered two miscarriages due to the stress and fear induced by the threats, while Kang endured a three-year harassment campaign that targeted her and her child. Despite the challenges, both journalists stand by their reporting and have no regrets.

Where to watch the K-pop documentary on the Burning Sun scandal?

The documentary Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-pop Chat Group is available for viewing on the BBC World Service YouTube channel internationally. It can also be viewed in Korean on the BBC News Korean YouTube channel.

In conclusion, the Burning Sun scandal serves as a stark reminder of the dark side of power and influence in the K-pop industry, highlighting the importance of accountability and justice in the face of corruption and abuse.