Yong Jun-hyung, former member of K-pop group HIGHLIGHT, has addressed his role in the 2019 Burning Sun scandal in a statement on Instagram. The scandal implicated several celebrities, including former Big Bang member Seungri, who owned a club named Burning Sun, and musicians Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon. The charges against them ranged from prostitution to embezzlement to gang rape. A data leak revealed the involvement of celebrities in facilitating prostitution for VIPs and investors, as well as sharing information about hidden cameras.
Yong was not accused of any crimes, but was found to be a member of the chatrooms where illicit footage and information was being shared. He admitted to watching the videos sent to him. He left HIGHLIGHT and their label as a result of backlash from the public and fans. The statement comes after a recent documentary by the BBC’s investigative team, Eye, revisited the scandal and revealed new information about the crimes.
In his statement, Yong acknowledged his mistakes and foolishness in the situation, but claimed that he was presented with the videos with a blacked-out thumbnail and no description, so he “had no way to know what it was or what the intention was” before opening them. He admitted that he could have done more to address the situation, but he “couldn’t become the person who can say this, and I just shrugged it off”. He denied being a member of the chatroom and said he never participated in any illegal activity.
Yong said that he has been labelled and associated with the individuals charged in the scandal, but he is determined to reflect on his past actions and become a more mature person. He asked that his loved ones and fans not be hurt by his actions and assured that he will endure the criticism he continues to face.
The Burning Sun scandal sparked a wider conversation about sexual assault in South Korea and the entertainment industry’s role in perpetuating the culture of silence and cover-up. The fallout from the scandal has led to several investigations and legal actions, marking a turning point in the country’s history of addressing sexual assault and harassment
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