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| Seungri, a member of K-pop band Big Bang, was a board member of Burning Sun, a nightclub in southern Seoul that closed recently amid allegations of drug use by the staff to assist VIP customers' rape of young women. / Courtesy of YG Entertainment |
By Jung Hae-myoung
Police have halted workers from removing furniture and other items from Burning Sun, a nightclub that shut down recently amid escalating drug use allegations, to prevent loss of any possible evidence.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Thursday that about a dozen investigators, including members of the cyber investigation unit, inspected and filmed the facility Wednesday evening.
The inspection followed media reports that the club, which closed on Sunday, began removing furniture and other installations. The police said they were not aware of the removal work until the reports. They had searched the place earlier on Feb. 14.
"We had secured documents and surveillance camera recordings during the earlier search," an official at the agency said, adding Wednesday's inspection was made because they needed to learn the structure of the VIP rooms, stages and other locations when questioning relevant figures.
The police also had the removal work suspended with permission from Le Meridien Seoul, the basement floor of which Burning Sun was leasing.
It has been alleged that staffers at the nightclub used narcotics to drug young women so VIP customers could rape them, and the club had corrupt ties with police officers at a nearby station.
The scandal gained much attention because Seungri, a member of K-Pop band Big Bang, was a board member in charge of PR. He stepped down from the post on Jan. 24 after the scandal emerged, saying he withdrew from the board to prepare for his upcoming military service.
A local media outlet reported Wednesday that the police may summon Seungri for questioning over whether he was involved in any shady activities at the club. They are investigating whether the club managers were aware of and ignored the irregularities, as well as what Seungri's exact role was in the management.
Club staffers said the singer used to visit the place about once a week and stayed for three to four hours.
The police said they would question anybody necessary, and Seungri would be no exception if they find the need.
After the scandal broke out, Seungri denied his involvement, saying he was not deeply involved in the management. But he made an apology on Instagram, posting "I am sorry to make you worry, I will fully cooperate in the investigation."
