Burning Sun: K-Pop idols sex scandal exposed in BBC documentary

Seoul-based journalists Park Hyo-sil and Kang Kyung-yoon – recently exposed a sex scandal involving several K-Pop idols. 

Amongst those exposed for sexual abuse were Drug Restaurant’s Jung Joon-young, BIGBANG member Seugri, and FT Island guitarist Choi Jong-hoon.

Burning Sun, a new BBC Eye documentary, tells their story and the consequences they faced.

In 2016, Park reported on allegations of sex abuse against Jung Joon-young. The allegations came from the star’s girlfriend at the time.

Later, when the girlfriend withdrew her accusations, Park revealed that she “bore the brunt” of the public backlash, with Jung stating that the media was the “villain.”

Years later, leaked data from Jung's phone showed Jung and other stars sharing explicit videos of unconscious women.

Kang reported that the stars evaded accountability for their actions. Their chats hinted at connections with powerful figures, making the journalists targets for online harassment. 

Despite threats, the journalists persisted, leading to arrests and court cases against the celebrities.

Kang hopes their story serves as a warning and empowers others to speak up.