[Photograph by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
SEOUL -- Seungri, a scandal-stricken member of boy band BIGBANG, apologized as he showed up for questioning by police to clear allegations about drug circulation and an attempt to buy sexual services for foreign investors.
The singer said he would take drug tests. "I apologize once again for disturbing, angering and causing trouble to many people with this controversy and many suspicions," he said, adding he has submitted a petition calling for a serious investigation.
"I will face an investigation sincerely so that all of these suspicions can be clarified as soon as possible," Seungri told reporters Wednesday before walking into a police station in Seoul.
"We hope that the truth over reckless rumors will be revealed quickly through a thorough police investigation," Seungri's agency, YG Entertainment, said in an earlier statement, adding that Seungri should get legal punishment if he is guilty.
An investigation into drug use, sexual assault and violence at Burning Sun was launched earlier this month after a 28-year-old man claimed in January that he was beaten by Burning Sun employees. He also claimed that he was inappropriately detained in a nearby police station without receiving proper treatment for several hours.
Seungri apologized and resigned from management of the club. However, SBS fun E, an online news wing of South Korean broadcaster SBS, reported Tuesday that Seungri is suspected of having been involved in escort services for foreign investors in Yuri Holdings in late 2015. The company was co-founded by Seungri for investment in restaurant and entertainment businesses.
The media outlet revealed an edited log from a smartphone messenger dialogue between four people including Seungri, an anonymous singer, an investment company CEO and a company employee. The log showed Seungri giving orders to other people to prepare women for two Taiwanese men who were to visit a club in southern Seoul.
Seungri rejected the report as groundless, insisting it was based on fabricated text messages.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
