27/02/2025
Where Is Seungri NOW 5 Years After The Burning Sun Scandal
Lee Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name Seungri, is a figure many remember due to a scandal that shook the K-pop world. His involvement in the Burning Sun controversy brought massive media attention and public opinion. But now, five years later, the question on everyone’s mind remains: Where is Seungri today, and what has he been doing since then?
Table of Contents
- The Burning Sun Scandal
- Military Trial and Sentencing
- Post-Prison Behavior
- “Burning Sun” Event & Rumors
- Relationship Scandals
- Current Lifestyle & Business Ventures
- Conclusion
The Burning Sun Scandal
For those who may not be familiar with the full details, on March 11, 2019, Seungri made the decision to leave BigBang and retire from the entertainment industry following serious allegations tied to his business ventures. He was accused of providing workers for investors in exchange for favors, including inappropriate acts, which led to charges of bribery and embezzlement. These accusations were linked to the infamous Burning Sun scandal, a case that involved alleged mistreatment of a male clubgoer at the Burning Sun, a prominent nightclub in Gangnam, by a staff member.
Upon further investigation, the scandal soon turned to one concerning the club’s alleged involvement in a series of shocking crimes, including soliciting police corruption, embezzlement, and other serious offenses. It sent shockwaves through the public, resulting in Seungri’s rapid fall from grace.
Military Trial and Sentencing
The military trial against Seungri began on September 16, 2020, while he was serving his mandatory military service in South Korea. Throughout the trial, Seungri denied seven of the eight charges leveled against him. However, the military court ultimately found him guilty on all charges. He was initially sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a hefty fine, though his sentence was later reduced to 18 months after Seungri expressed remorse, pleaded guilty to the charges, and publicly stated that he would “reflect on his actions.”
On February 9, 2023, Seungri was released from prison after serving a reduced 18-month sentence for criminal charges related to his involvement in the notorious Burning Sun scandal. Given the gravity of the situation, one would expect him to lay low and avoid public attention for a while. However, Seungri clearly chose a different path, not remaining silent in the aftermath of the controversy.
Post-Prison Behavior
Soon after his release, multiple reports of Seungri engaging in questionable behavior and social interactions began to emerge. Let’s begin with him casually drinking with friends as if nothing had ever happened. Just two months later, in April 2023, Seungri was spotted having drinks with a group of people, seemingly unaffected by the past events.
“This is a Korean tradition!”
In a video posted on social media, Seungri, dressed in a black t-shirt and sunglasses, can be seen tapping the bottom of the soju bottle with his elbow and flicking the neck with his fingers after opening it. The video, along with several photos, was shared on Instagram as the footage was captured during a trip to Korea by none other than Grace Tahir, a popular influencer with 220,000 followers who is reportedly the daughter of Indonesian billionaire Dato Sri Tahir, founder of the Mayapada Group, Indonesia’s fifth-largest conglomerate.
Without a doubt, Grace’s story sparked a lot of mixed reactions from online users and some Korean media outlets. Many Koreans, especially those who still held negative views of Seungri because of his criminal history, didn’t change their opinions. One comment even said, “Watching him makes my blood boil.” However, when the backlash grew, Grace took to Instagram to respond to the concerns she was getting in her DMs. She reassured her followers that Seungri seemed to be in good physical and mental health, was friendly, and easily chatted with everyone. Grace also cleared up any confusion about his alcohol consumption, saying he had only drunk a little and wasn’t intoxicated. She explained that Seungri was just showing her the soju whirlpool trick as she had asked, denying any claims of inappropriate behavior.
Seungri found himself in the spotlight once again when BBC’s “Burning Sun: Exposing The Secret K-Pop Chat Groups” documentary was released on May 19. Just a few days later, he made another public appearance, this time at a private birthday concert in Malaysia. A one-minute video from the event quickly made its way across social media, showing Seungri performing BANG BANG BANG, one of his former group’s biggest hits. In the footage, he appeared to be in high spirits, entertaining the crowd at the birthday celebration held at a Chinese restaurant.
This public appearance again sparked an uproar online, with many netizens expressing their anger at his apparent disregard for his past actions. The fact that he seemed to be living the perks of his former idol life without any visible signs of remorse upset many. “It’s sad, some of these people attending the event don’t even know what he has done,” one top comment read, while others argued that he should never have been released from jail in the first place.
“Burning Sun” Event & Rumors
Shedding some light on Seungri’s recent professional activities, it was reported that an event management company, TSV Management, announced a “Burning Sun”-themed event to be held in Indonesia, with Seungri invited as a special guest. This raised significant concerns, as the name “Burning Sun” refers to a nightclub that Seungri was connected to and which became the focal point of the infamous 2019 crime scandal.
Following this announcement, speculation about Seungri’s involvement in the event started to circulate. TSV Management even posted a promotional flyer on social media featuring Seungri’s image, further fueling rumors. Adding to the intrigue, Seungri had been spotted several times at a club in Bali, Indonesia, sparking questions about whether he was already in the country for the event.
However, Seungri denied the claims in an interview, stating, “I don’t even know where the location mentioned in the article is. I have no plans to attend.” He also made it clear that he would be taking legal action through a local law firm against those spreading false information. In response to the growing backlash, the event organizers later issued an apology and abruptly canceled the event.
Seungri also addressed and denied earlier reports that claimed he was planning to open a club in Hong Kong shortly after his release from prison. He clarified that the reason he attended a party in Cambodia right after leaving prison was purely personal. Contrary to the speculation, no one had paid him to be there or asked him to participate in any promotional activities. He explained that he attended the event simply to support an acquaintance who had recently launched a new beer pub. However, fans struggled to trust his intentions, as one comment noted, “Wouldn’t be surprised if he was just back to doing illegal things.” Meanwhile, others simply expressed they weren’t interested in knowing his whereabouts.
Relationship Scandals
Since then, Seungri has frequently found himself in and out of the spotlight, with various reports circulating about him either partying, being spotted with women, or enjoying leisurely trips throughout Southeast Asia. In addition to that, he has consistently been at the center of multiple reports involving questionable behavior. The allegations range from inviting acquaintances to exclusive clubs and hosting lavish parties to being seen in the company of individuals, such as Chinese actors banned from professional activities due to past illegal convictions.
One of the most significant scandals he faced occurred in October 2023 when Dispatch revealed allegations that he had been two-timing two different women during his vacation in Bali. According to an exclusive report, Dispatch uncovered how Seungri had carefully orchestrated his trip, bringing two women to Bali at different times to avoid any overlap in their schedules. He meticulously planned their arrivals and departures, leading to Woman A coming to Bali and leaving before Woman B arrived.
However, Dispatch’s shared chat records revealed that while Seungri was pursuing Woman B, he was also keeping his options open with Woman A. The problem arose when both women ended up having the same travel plans, staying at the same seaside accommodations, and visiting the same restaurants and cafes. This overlap eventually led Woman B to figure out what was going on and confront Seungri. What Seungri had failed to notice was that both women knew each other and were following one another on Instagram, allowing them to compare notes and expose his actions. Woman B made a final statement to Dispatch, explaining that once she confirmed Seungri had been two-timing her, she immediately left. She also shared, “He never reflects on his actions. He will never change.”
Current Lifestyle & Business Ventures
Recently, in December 2024, a video began circulating across various social media platforms and online communities, quickly grabbing attention. The video showcased Seungri attending an exhibition abroad, looking significantly different from his previously slender appearance. His face and physique appeared fuller, which immediately caught the eye of viewers. However, what attracted even more attention was not just his changed appearance but the apparent continuation of his lavish lifestyle, seemingly unaffected by the scandal.
A caption accompanying the video further fueled the gossip, claiming that Seungri earned more money than G-Dragon. Reports later surfaced confirming that Seungri was in discussions with foreign investors, leading many to believe he was preparing for new business ventures. During this period, he was notably spotted with Jacob Arabo, the founder and creative director of the Swiss luxury watch brand J. This brand had recently gained worldwide attention, particularly due to the highly publicized (over 6 million dollar) ring worn by BIGBANG’s leader G-Dragon during the ‘MAMA Awards’ held in Japan the previous year. Seungri’s association with the brand raised more questions about his financial condition and business activities, with some commenters pointing out his former role as the CEO of YGx and suggesting that he might hold significant shares in YG Entertainment.
Another comment mentioned that “He also had a few buildings/cafes/bars in different parts of Asia,” leading many to draw comparisons between Seungri and G-Dragon. He was also seen in Hong Kong, where he was said to be living a relatively carefree life while mingling with women. Sporting a tailored suit and black-rimmed glasses, he appeared noticeably fuller than before.
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In one clip, he was seen shaking hands with a woman while two others lingered nearby. Another video showed him climbing a staircase with the same three women following closely behind. At one point, one of the women tripped, prompting Seungri to briefly turn and reveal his face to the op. His behavior showed no change after returning to Korea, as Seungri quickly became a familiar sight in the pubs and restaurants of Seoul’s Gangnam District. An anonymous source noted, “Seungri visits the pub at least twice a week. He drinks quietly before leaving without causing a stir.”
Although it’s only been a year since Seungri’s release from prison, he has not laid low, continuing with business ventures and high-profile meetings as if nothing ever happened. While some see this as a sign of resilience, it leaves many questioning whether he will ever truly be forgiven.
Conclusion
Amid ongoing controversies and constant sightings, Seungri continues to face scrutiny from fans and critics alike. While some may argue that he is trying to reclaim a sense of normalcy, others believe he has yet to show genuine remorse for the Burning Sun scandal and subsequent legal battles. Will the public ever forgive him for his past actions, or has he crossed a line that permanently tarnished his reputation? Only time will tell.
