Bahk Eun-ji has been with The Korea Times since 2012, building a career across multiple desks. She began at the Business Desk, where she conducted in-depth interviews with key figures in Korea's corporate world. Later, she moved to the Politics & City Desk, focusing on education policy and social affairs. She later served as team leader of the digital content team, leading curation efforts on the newspaper’s homepage and reshaping print stories for social media audiences to enhance digital reach. Now back on the Politics Desk, she covers the National Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense, with a renewed focus on political developments.
Seungri faces arrest over allegedly arranging prostitution service
By Bahk Eun-ji
Police confirmed Wednesday that Seungri, a former member of K-pop boy band BIGBANG, arranged prostitution services for Japanese investors in December 2015, after his business partner and the prostitutes admitted to the allegation.
Seungri, a former member of K-pop boy band BIGBANG, has been questioned by police again over allegations that he arranged escort services for Japanese investors in 2015. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is considering seeking an arrest warrant for him following an examination of the bank accounts and phone records of the figures involved.
Officers said they also booked and summoned 17 women ― escorts and brokers ― involved in the alleged prostitution service, adding that most of them admitted to the allegations.
It has been alleged that Seungri held a Christmas party in 2015 for potential Japanese investors in his businesses and arranged for the escorts to provide sex for them.
Police have been investigating the allegations based on mobile messenger records between Seungri and his business partner and former CEO of Yuri Holdings Yu In-seok.
They confirmed Yu contacted the prostitutes and sent money to the brokers. He also admitted to offering the escort service during questioning.
The Japanese ended up investing in Seungri's business.
It was also confirmed that Seungri paid 30 million won ($25,880) in hotel fees for the investors when they visited Seoul, using a corporate credit card of his then-agency YG Entertainment.
The singer, however, only admitted to paying for the accommodation, saying it was repaying the hospitality he received in Japan. He claimed he had no involvement in the prostitution services.
Seungri faces another allegation that he offered similar services during a lavish birthday party in the Philippines in 2017.
He paid about 15 million won to a woman who accompanied a dozen escorts to the party. While he claims the money was for their travel expenses, the police suspect the money was in return for sex.
Some of the women admitted they had sex with party participants, but claimed they did not receive any money.