Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Uncomfortable parallels between K-pop scandal and 'Intimate Stranger'
Graphic by Bae So-young
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
In last year's hit film “Intimate Stranger,” tensions fill the air among four couples as smartphone rings sound whenever new chat messages arrive.
In the seemingly innocuous party game, where they consent to unlocking their cellphones and sharing all its contents with others, they know what problems their phones can bring.
As their smartphones reveal their dirty secrets which they tried to keep for their entire lives, the whole situation goes out of control.
“I thought I knew everything about you. But it turned out you are a complete stranger," one of the four women shouts in despair.
The film carries the message that “People lead three different lives ― a public life, a private one and a secretive one.”
The fictional story has become a reality in the latest sex video scandal that wreaked havoc on the careers of several K-pop stars. The incident began with a minor offense case. As the police embarked on their investigation, however, shocking revelations have come day after day. Like “Intimate Stranger” showcased, Pandora's box was opened.
Club guest Kim Sang-gyu, who had defended a woman in a nightclub, was assaulted by the employees of the nightclub in which BIGBANG member Seungri worked as its public relations director. The victim who called the police and reported the case, not the club employees, was arrested and beaten by a few policemen.
Following Kim's petition to Cheong Wa Dae, many women came forward claiming they had been drugged and sexually harassed at Burning Sun nightclub, and local authorities opened an investigation in late January.
Seungri has been one of the most successful K-pop idols of YG Entertainment. The K-pop icon boasted a great sense of business acumen, running restaurants and a nightclub and launching a VR company.
It was Seungri's smartphone which emerged as a smoking gun, revealing the star's dirty secrets and making him fall from grace.
In the ensuing investigation, his Kakao Talk group chat Seungri shared with eight other celebrity friends including K-pop singer-songwriter Jung Jung-young and CNBLUE member Lee Jong-hyun, referred to his sex-for-favors allegations and collusion with the police who had his back.
Since then, almost every day turned up new revelations. In the group chat, Jung Joon-young posted and shared videos of at least 10 women he illicitly filmed while having sex with them.
In the expanded investigation, Jung's three smartphones, including one nicknamed the “golden phone” with which Jung used only Kakaotalk for sharing such lewd videos with his friends, have been confiscated.
Since then, more celebrities have been in the hot seat. Kim Jun-ho and Cha Tae-hyun, two members of the KBS flagship reality show “2 Days & 1 Night,” where Jung is also a cast member, were reported on Saturday to have allegedly shared proof of their gambling a few million won on golf games in their “2 Days & 1 Night” Kakao Talk group chat three years ago.
Jung admitted his wrongdoings and the police requested a warrant to arrest him on Monday.