Summary
Highlights
K-Pop stars, enjoying fame and millions of fans, led a secret life involving the sharing of videos depicting women being drugged, raped, and humiliated. This hidden world came to light when secret messages among them were leaked. Journalist Kang Kyung-yoon, an entertainment journalist, describes this industry as a 'microcosm of our society,' revealing 'the bottom of the pit,' where money, power, women, and sex intertwined. The scandal was ignited by a K-Pop star secretly filming a woman, a crime known as 'Molka' (illegally filmed footage).
Journalist Park Hyo-sil first broke the story in 2016 about Jung Joon-young, a singer-songwriter, who was accused of a sexual offence. He was caught secretly filming his girlfriend, Kyung-mi, during sex. When questioned by police, Jung refused to hand over his phone, instead sending it to a private forensics company. A leaked recording revealed Jung's lawyer pressuring the forensics company to declare the data unrecoverable, suggesting police collusion to close the case. Jung's agency then held a press conference, portraying him as an innocent victim, and Park faced severe backlash and harassment.
Three years later, a carbon copy of Jung's phone data was leaked to journalist Kang, containing KakaoTalk chat messages from 2015-2016. While Kyung-mi's video was not found, Kang discovered numerous other videos of Jung with women, and recognised other famous K-Pop stars, including Choi Jong-hoon, who was also involved in encouraging women to drink and participate in sexual acts. The chats also featured megastar Seungri, known for his lavish parties and influence.
Kang chronologically reviewed the KakaoTalk messages, revealing the secret life of these celebrities. Seungri, who branded himself 'Seungstby' (likening himself to Jay Gatsby), used women to attract investment from wealthy international business partners. Messages from a ski trip in early 2016 showed evidence of serious sexual assault, with women losing memory after consuming drinks, and illegally filmed content emerging, including videos of men having sex with unconscious women. Similar incidents occurred later, with Jung and Choi implicated in the gang rape of an unconscious woman in a hotel.
The chatrooms also provided clues about police collusion, with Choi having been protected by a police officer after a drink-driving incident. Seungri, leveraging his status as a Big Bang member, wielded significant influence within the Gangnam club scene. He used his police contacts and investors to become a major player in Gangnam's nightlife, even partnering with Jung and Choi to open a club called Mildang Pocha, where Molka was soon recorded. Despite initial complaints against Jung, the police failed to properly investigate, leading to his exoneration.
Seungri expanded his empire, securing a Tinder endorsement and planning his biggest club, Burning Sun, which opened in 2018 as Gangnam's most prestigious nightclub. Former employees revealed that 'merchandises' (MDs) facilitated interactions between VIP guests and women, often taking advantage of intoxicated women. The club frequently used the date rape drug GHB in private rooms, with women being made unconscious and taken to hotels for sexual exploitation. One victim shared her harrowing experience of being drugged and raped, with the perpetrator using a coerced photo to claim consensual sex. Police inaction and alleged bribery allowed these incidents to continue.
In January 2019, Seungri's empire faced public scrutiny when a customer alleged police complicity after being beaten by club staff. CCTV footage and a viral Molka video from inside Burning Sun, known as 'the Red Bathroom video', intensified the scandal. Under pressure, Burning Sun closed, and Seungri made a public apology, acknowledging his 'Seungtsby' persona had made him 'not humble enough'. Meanwhile, journalist Kang, who was pregnant, secretly worked on the investigation, enduring severe morning sickness while reviewing the disturbing chatrooms.
Lawyer Bang Jeong-hyun received the anonymous USB drives containing Jung's phone data and collaborated with Kang to make the information public. Kang's initial report on Seungri's procurement of prostitutes led to his voluntary questioning by police. To corroborate police collusion, Kang needed to identify the 'Police Prosecutor General' mentioned in the chats. K-Pop star Hara, a friend of Choi and Jung, contacted Kang, offering her help. Hara, a victim of revenge porn herself, persuaded Choi to reveal the identity of the corrupt officer as Yoon Kyu-keun, a real police officer who worked at the presidential residence.
Armed with Hara's information, Kang published her major stories, leading to Jung's arrest upon his return to Korea and the suspension of Senior Superintendent Yoon. Choi was also remanded as a suspect. Victims of Molka, many unaware until the news broke, came forward, with six women pressing charges for rape. Five of these victims were represented by lawyer Bang. Public protests against gender-based violence intensified, though some men criticised the women's movement. Kang continued to face intense trolling and personal attacks for her reporting.
Just as Kang's investigation was culminating, Hara faced a personal crisis. Her close friend, K-Pop star Sulli, who was a vocal feminist, died by suicide. Hara's unstable Instagram Live, filled with grief and malicious comments, signalled deep distress. Despite Kang's supportive messages, Hara tragically passed away shortly after. Her brother, Hoin, expressed sorrow over her missed opportunity to become an aunt. Five days after Hara's death, Jung was sentenced to six years for gang rape and Molka, Choi received two and a half years, and Seungri was sentenced to 18 months on appeal for multiple charges, including obtaining prostitutes and embezzlement. However, Senior Inspector Yoon was acquitted of all charges related to the chat group members. Former club staff noted that despite the convictions, practices like GHB use continue in Gangnam clubs, highlighting the ongoing struggle for concrete change and justice for victims.