Singer Jung Joon-young walks into the lobby of Incheon International Airport on March 12 after returning home from the United States to face a police investigation. [Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL -- South Korea's music community was rattled by a sex video scandal that prompted top entertainment agencies to issue denials and warnings as a widening police probe sparked rampant rumors about celebrities implicated.
Singer-songwriter Jung Joon-young was accused of sharing illegally filmed sex video files through social media group chat rooms involving Seungri, a BIGBANG member, and some other unnamed entertainers. Jung apologized and declared retirement before being questioned by police.
As the names of celebrities involved in the scandal have spread across South Korea's smartphone messenger chat rooms, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and FNC Entertainment took action to protect their artists, warning of legal action against rumor-mongers.
"Rumors about our artists are completely groundless," SM Entertainment, home of boy band EXO and Super Junior, said in a statement.
JYP Entertainment, which manages girl bands TWICE and ITZY, expressed concerns that groundless rumors could damage the reputation of their artists. "We remind you that as an agency, we will do everything we can to protect the rights and interests of our artists," said JYP.
FNC Entertainment said that one of its artists was investigated by police as a witness, but he has nothing to do with the scandal.
Jung would be the first entertainer to be investigated in a probe into a sex scandal involving Seungri, who is suspected of arranging sexual services for foreign investors in 2015. A broadcaster has released an edited version of Seungri's smartphone messenger chat log that showed Jung sharing a sex video file. The broadcaster reported that Jung had shared sex videos at other chat rooms.
Jung admitted all criminal charges and declared retirement in a statement. "With regard to stories being mentioned about me, I admit all my sins," Jung said, admitting that he had filmed women without their consent and distributed sex video files. "I did all these things without much guilt."
Jung is suspected of sharing sex video files with other entertainers, but their names were not disclosed. Illegal distribution and filming of unauthorized sex videos provide for a maximum jail term of five years or a fine of 30 million won ($26,539).
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
