A new BBC documentary is shedding new light on the explosive 2019 “Burning Sun” scandal that rocked the K-pop world. “Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-pop Chat Groups” reexamines the sordid case involving drugging, assault, and collusion allegations against some of the industry’s biggest stars.
Through exclusive interviews and previously unseen footage, the gripping one-hour documentary takes a dive into the events surrounding Seoul nightclub Burning Sun, closely tied to BIGBANG member Seungri. Journalists Park Hyo-sil and Kang Kyung-yoon, who first broke the story, provide key testimony. Their investigations three years ago led to KakaoTalk chat group revelations showing Seungri, singer Jung Joon-young, and FT Island’s Choi Jong-hoon living frightening double lives.
The documentary pulls back the curtain further on the depravity within the private rooms at Burning Sun. A former employee shockingly describes the date rape drug GHB being “common” and seeing unconscious women “almost every day.” The documentary unveils a chilling reality: these celebrities led double lives, using their fame to prey on women. They drugged and sexually assaulted female customers at the nightclub, illegally filmed their victims, and shared the footage with each other and their celebrity friends. Clips also capture the ugly behavior of perpetrators like Seungri roughly grabbing and shouting at women.
The documentary also revealed K-pop singer Goo Ha-ra, a member of the popular girl group Kara, played a huge role in exposing the scandal. The late star, who bravely described herself as a victim of “revenge porn,” urged Choi Jong-hoon, a member of the band FT Island, to reveal everything he knew about the scandal. She insisted that a “police prosecutor general,” frequently mentioned in the group chat, was not a fictional character but a real person named Yoon Kyu-keun, a high-ranking police official.
Seungri, Jung Joon-young, and Choi Jong-hoon faced minimal consequences for their egregious crimes. Seungri only served 1.5 years in prison for offenses including pimping, overseas gambling, and procuring prostitution services. Jung Joon-young received a relatively short 5-year sentence for gang rape and illegally distributing videos. Choi Jong-hoon was imprisoned for just 2.5 years. Meanwhile, the high-ranking police official involved was acquitted entirely, facing no punishment at all.
The lenient sentences and lack of accountability send a troubling message, as the victims continue to suffer the traumatic impact of these crimes. The rapid release of the idols back into the entertainment industry is deeply concerning and fails to reflect the gravity of their actions. This case highlights systemic issues with how such high-profile offenses are adjudicated in South Korea.
