A file picture shows Seungri leaving a police station after being questioned over a sex scandal. [Photo by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
SEOUL -- South Korea's police chief vowed to launch a thorough investigation into allegations that high-ranking officers appeared to have watched the back of Seungri, a BIGBANG member at the center of a sex scandal which has rocked the entertainment community.
National Police Agency Commissioner Min Gap-ryong told a press conference on Wednesday that a special police team would investigate the scandal together with a separate internal inspection into the possible involvement of high-ranking policemen.
"I will thoroughly investigate to determine whether there is any (police) involvement," Min said. "If any irregularities or crimes are found, I will thoroughly punish them regardless of their status."
Min's pledge came after a lawyer raised suspicions about collusion between police and Seungri. The lawyer represents the whistleblower who has sent the log of chat rooms involving Seungri and other people to the Korean Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, a state watchdog.
Investigators found that the log contained expressions that police were backing Seungri and his business. "I will do my best to make sure there will not be any distortion of our investigation due to external pressure or internal problems," Min said.
The scandal surfaced in January when a 28-year-old man claimed that he was brutally beaten by the employees of Burning Sun, a music and dance club associated with Seungri. The man also claimed that he was mistreated by police without receiving proper medical treatment for several hours.
Seungri was plagued by fresh reports on February 26 that he has arranged escort services for foreign investors in 2015. An edited log from his smartphone messenger dialogue showed Seungri giving orders to prepare women for two Taiwanese men.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
