BIGBANG’s Seungri has shared a statement in response to the controversies surrounding the club Burning Sun.

On February 2, Seungri posted the following statement on his Instagram:

Hello. This is Seungri.

I first want to bow my head and sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable or was worried due to the recent incident and controversy related to me. Because of this incident, the last few days have been like an unbearable nightmare, and I was flustered as to where and how I should begin talking about this.

I’m sorry for my delayed official statement and apology. I was dissuaded by people around me that a hasty explanation may cause bigger misunderstandings during a time when uncertain information was already snowballing.

I was not at the scene when the assault incident that started this controversy occurred. I first learned about the incident a few days later through a staff member and only initially heard that there was assault on both sides between a customer and an employee, and that it was under police investigation. Due to the nature of the place of business, disputes and fights occur often, so I hoped that this would also be resolved peacefully without a big problem.

Later on, I saw the clip of the incident for the first time through the media, and I was also very shocked. Violence cannot be justified under any circumstance, and I sincerely apologize to the victim who was injured due to this incident. I hope that your mental and physical injuries will heal as soon as possible.

I first became involved with the club when BIGBANG briefly halted promotions and I began solo promotions. Using the time outside of my solo promotions, I began with the innocent mindset of wanting to try working as a DJ, which is something I had wanted to do, at a place where I could freely play music at any time.

Just in time, I got a good opportunity to become the executive director in charge of promotions at a club. Since I’m a celebrity, I was in charge of publicly promoting the club.

Operating and managing the club were not my roles, and I am reflecting and deeply apologize for not showing myself taking responsibility from the beginning of the incident, as I was not involved in these roles from the start.

The issue that began with an assault case is now being covered with reports about drugs. I have not seen or heard anything related to this, so I’ll actively cooperate with investigations and hope that strict punishment will be carried out if a crime is revealed through the investigation. I’ll also take full responsibility if there is something I need to be responsible for as an executive director at the time.

While going through this incident, I learned and realized a lot once more about the responsibility and attitude of a celebrity. I apologize once again to everyone for causing concern through this incident, and will work hard to become more mature and considerate.

Respectfully,

Seungri, Lee Seung Hyun

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안녕하세요. 승리입니다. 먼저 저와 관계된 최근 사건과 논란으로 불쾌하셨거나 걱정을 끼쳐드린 모든 분들께 진심으로 고개 숙여 사과드립니다. 이번 사건으로 인해 지난 며칠간 견디기 힘든 악몽 같은 시간을 보내며 무슨 말씀을 어디부터 어떻게 드려야 할지 많이 혼란스러웠습니다. 사실 관계가 불분명한 내용들이 눈덩이처럼 커지는 상황에서, 섣부른 해명이 오히려 더 큰 오해를 만들 수 있다는 주변의 만류와 많은 고민들로 공식해명과 사과가 늦어진 점 정말 죄송스럽게 생각합니다. 이번 논란의 시작이 된 폭행 사건 당시 저는 현장에 있지 않았고, 며칠 뒤 스텝을 통해 손님과 직원 간에 쌍방폭행사건이 있었으며 경찰서에서 조사중이라는 정도로 이번 사건을 처음 알게 되었습니다. 사업장의 성격상 다툼 및 시비가 적지 않게 일어나기에 이번에도 큰 문제 없이 원만히 해결되기를 바라는 마음이었습니다. 후에 언론을 통해 당시 상황이 담긴 영상을 처음 보게 되었고, 저 역시 큰 충격을 받았습니다. 어떠한 경우에도 폭력은 정당화될 수 없고, 이번 일로 상처를 받으신 피해자 분께는 이 글을 빌어 진심으로 사죄의 말씀드리며. 하루빨리 심신의 상처가 아물길 바라겠습니다. 제가 처음 클럽에 관여하게 된 계기는, 빅뱅의 활동이 잠시 중단되고 솔로 활동을 시작하게 되면서, 솔로 활동 외의 시간을 이용해 언제든 마음놓고 음악을 틀 수 있는 장소에서, 제가 해보고 싶었던 DJ 활동을 병행하고 싶다는 단순한 마음에서였습니다. 때마침 좋은 계기가 있어 홍보를 담당하는 클럽의 사내이사를 맡게 되었고, 연예인이기 때문에 대외적으로 클럽을 알리는 역할을 담당했습니다 실질적인 클럽의 경영과 운영은 제 역할이 아니었고, 처음부터 관여하지 않았기 때문에 이번 사건도 처음부터 책임있는 모습을 보여드리지 못하였던 점 깊이 반성하고 머리 숙여 사죄드립니다. 폭행사건으로 촉발된 이슈가 요즘은 마약이나 약물 관련 언론 보도들로 이어지고 있습니다. 이 부분에 있어서는 제가 이를 직접 보거나, 들어본 적도 없었던 터라 수사에 적극 협조하여 철저한 조사를 통해 진상규명과 함께 죄가 있다면 엄중한 처벌이 있었으면 하는 마음입니다. 당시 사내이사를 맡고 있었던 저도 책임질 일이 있다면 모든 책임을 지겠습니다. 이번 일을 겪으면서 유명인의 책임과 태도에 대해 다시 한번 크게 뉘우치고 깨닫게 되었습니다. 이번 일로 인해 걱정 끼쳐드린 모든 분들께 다시 한번 진심으로 사과 드리며, 더 성숙하고 사려깊은 모습 보여드릴 수 있도록 노력하겠습니다. 승리 이승현 배상

A post shared by Seung Ri (@seungriseyo) on Feb 2, 2019 at 6:45am PST

On January 28, MBC’s “News Desk” aired a story about Mr. Kim who alleged he was assaulted by a Burning Sun’s director and security guards after trying to help a woman who was sexually harassed at the club. After sustaining injuries including broken ribs, he stated he was then arrested and assaulted by the police. The police responded with a press release with details of the incident and the investigation, and the controversy grew as suspicions of corruption between the police and the club, drugs, sexual assault, and other issues came to light.

Since then, Burning Sun Entertainment released a statement signed by CEOs Lee Sung Hyun and Lee Moon Ho explaining the CCTV footage of a woman being dragged through a hallway of the club. Director Jang of Burning Sun also released more CCTV footage to E-Daily while a government petition was put up on the Blue House petition board for a thorough investigation into the matter and the police involved. It was also revealed that Seungri resigned as a director of the club last week.

On January 31, Yang Hyun Suk released a statement stating that the incident took place after Seungri had left the club and that the BIGBANG member was already in the process of resigning from all executive positions at his businesses in preparation for his upcoming military enlistment. He also stated that the reports about the drugs were groundless.

In the meantime, new CCTV footage was recently revealed to the public.

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