Disgraced K-pop star Seungri joins army, and will face prostitution and gambling charges in military court

Former BigBang member Seungri has been charged with arranging prostitution, illicit gambling and embezzlement
He began his national service on Monday, so he will face his charges in a military court

K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

The Korea Times

Published: 12:45pm, 9 Mar, 2020

Why you can trust SCMP

By Dong Sun-hwa

Disgraced K-pop star Seungri, formerly of boy band BigBang, reported for duty with the South Korean army on Monday and faces trial in a military court on prostitution arrangement and gambling charges.

The singer, 29, is set to join military boot camp in Cherwon county, Gangwon province, where he will undergo five weeks’ training. Seungri, who has been indicted without detention on several charges including arranging prostitution, illicit gambling and embezzlement, will be tried in a military court.

Police and prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for him last May and in January, but the court refused. It said there was room for dispute and that the singer was unlikely to destroy evidence.

“We will cooperate with the prosecutors for a fair and consistent ruling,” an official from the Military Manpower Administration said.

The former BigBang member is suspected of gambling regularly in Las Vegas and arranging sex services for prospective foreign investors 29 times between 2015 and 2016.

Seungri arrives for a hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea in 2019. Photo: Lee Jin-man/AP

He was to begin his military service last March, but his enlistment was postponed due to the investigation.

Seungri made his debut in 2006 as a member of BigBang. The band shot to fame with a string of hits including Day by Day. Seungri left the group in March last year following the controversy.

He will be discharged from the army on September 16, 2021.

Read the full story at the Korea Times

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