South Korea's Burning Sun scandal continues as more details about the controversial chatroom emerged. Police learned that aside from Jung Joon Young, Seungri, and other named members of the discussion, there are more people and illegal activities associated with the group.
In a report by MBC's Newsdesk, via AllKpop, the controversial chatroom had 14 members, eight of which were reportedly singers. Aside from illegally sharing and filming videos, the group was also exchanging misogynistic messages. There was also a discussion about using the clips for blackmailing the poor victims.
In total, there were seven chatrooms sharing illegal videos, and each one of it had three to seven members. Some of the members were named as Jung Joon Young, Seungri, former F.T. Island and Highlight members Jonghun and Junhyung, a certain singer K, singer J, and two other singers. Also, model L, former Yuri Holdings CEO Yoo In Suk, 'Burning Sun' employees, and Jung Joon Young's acquaintance were also part of the group.
In one of the conversations, Mr. Kim asked other members if he should release the illegal clip to threaten a victim who owned him money. "Should I release this video if she doesn't pay up?" he said.
Meanwhile, when the news about the controversial chatroom broke, Seungri allegedly asked its members to change their phones. "Change your phone," the Big Bang member told Choi Jong Hoong, the police found.
According to MBC's investigation reports, per Soompi, Seungri, Jung Joon Young, Choi Jong Hoon, and other members of the controversial chatrooms all changed their phones before the investigation ensued. When the first report about the illegally filmed and shared video emerged on March 11, they reportedly discussed to replace their phones.
Jung Joon Young admitted to the police that he replaced his phone while filming in Los Angeles. He said Mr. Park, a chatroom member, told him to swap his phone and buy a new one. So when he returned to Korea, he surrendered all of his handsets that contained the illegal videos, while his old phone was suspected holding more evidence of illicit clips.
Aside from Jung Joon Young, Seungri and five other chatroom members submitted new phones to the police. With the organized destruction of evidence, the authorities were not able to fully check their recent phones. Hence, the investigation mostly focused on illegal activities that happened from 2015 to 2016.
Jung Joon Young has already been charged with "filming and distributing hidden camera sex tapes without content." Seungri, on the other hand, admitted on "sharing illegally filmed footage," but insisted he never recorded illegal clips.
