K-Pop Star, Seung-ri, Quits Entertainment Amid Legal Controversies

Seung-ri, recognised from K-pop group BIGBANG, has announced he will retire from the entertainment industry. 

The singer, real name Lee Seung-hyun, has recently been charged with supply prostitutes.

He denies the charges, but today announced he will immediately retire from the entertainment industry after his nightclub was raided by police on Sunday night to which a statement was released by law enforcement saying, “We booked Seung-ri and changed his status to that of a suspect in order to issue a search and seizure warrant and clear [Seung-ri] of the suspicions,”

We’re told police have confiscated his passport and he is due to take a temporary leave from the band in order to enter Korea’s mandatory military service — this may now be postponed due to the investigation.

In his statement, it reads, “At this point, I think it would be best if I retire from the entertainment industry. I decided on retiring from the entertainment industry as the issues that I caused a societal disturbance with are too major. Regarding the issues that are being investigated, I will be investigated diligently and reveal all the suspicions.

Receiving criticism and hate from the public for the past month and a half an with the situation of all the investigative agencies in the country currently investigating me, I am even being cornered as a traitor of the nation. I personally cannot tolerate causing harm to everyone around me in order to save myself.

I sincerely thank all of the fans in and outside of Korea who have given me lots of love for the past 10 years, and I think this is where I stop even if it’s at least [to protect] the honour of YG and BIGBANG.

Again, I am sorry and apologise once again.

I have been thankful to everyone until now.”

In February a series of texting messages emerged dating back to 2015 which suggested Seung-ri and three other people were allegedly supplying prostitutes to potential investors at the club.