| The CEO of food fund company Origin Food, and a director of St. Andrew's International School, Chavanos Rattakul. / Capture from Twitter @umksr |
The sex scandal allegedly involving Seungri, a member of BIG BANG, an iconic K-pop band, is engulfing its incubator Yang Hyun-suk, founder of YG Entertainment. They were suspected of providing prostitutes for wealthy foreigners to draw investment to expand their business. Five of the foreigners have been identified by domestic and foreign media outlets. – ED
By Lee Gyu-lee
Thai businessman known as 'Bob'
SBS TV's “Unanswered Questions,” an investigative program, first reported in March that Seungri invited a group investors from Thailand and Hong Kong, among others, to his birthday party in December 2017 and provided them with prostitutes. Without identifying them, it also reported that rapes occurred in the “Burning Sun” club, the management of which Seungri had been deeply involved in.
It was Thai media outlets that identified Chavanos Rattakul, also known as Bob, CEO of food fund company Origin Food and a director of St. Andrew's International School, as the Thai participant in the Seungri party and who allegedly committed the rape last December.
| Thai businessman Chavanos Rattakul denied the accusation in an interview with a Thai TV program. Capture from JTBC |
The victim appeared on JTBC's “Spotlight” investigative program to claim that she was drugged and physically abused after she refused to have sex with him. But he denied the allegations in an interview with a Thai TV program.
In the latest development, MBC's journalism program “Straight” reported his close links to YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk. It claimed that Rattakul was among the investors who received prostitutes from Yang in July 2014.
Fugitive Malaysian businessman
| Fugitive Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, left, and his friend, Korean singer PSY. / Capture from Facebook, photo from Yonhap |
Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, 38, is the latest name to join the list of those linked to the scandal. MBC's “Straight” program reported that he was provided with a prostitute by Yang in July 2014, along with “Bob.” Malaysian local media outlet Malaysiakini further reported, Tuesday, that Korean singer PSY introduced Low to Yang.
Low is on Interpol's wanted list on suspicion of embezzling billions from the government-run company 1Malaysia Development Berhad, using his ties with Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Low dated Australian model Miranda Kerr.
'Madam Lin'
| Seungri with “Madam Lin” / Yonhap |
“Unanswered Questions” revealed Seungri's business partner and close Taiwanese friend. Nicknamed “Madam Lin,” she was one of the largest shareholders in the Burning Sun club, investing1 billion won for a 20 percent stake. She is suspected of money laundering through the club using her connections with Seungri.
Taiwanese news outlets reported that she acquired her wealth from illegal online gambling sites.
Ferrari Prince
| The CEO of Japanese construction company KRH Koji Aoyama, left, with his wife Arisa Mizuki and Seungri. / Capture from Instagram @aoyama713 |
“Unanswered Questions” reported that a Japanese VIP was among those who received sex services at Seungri's birthday party, which was held in the Philippines in December 2017.
Koji Aoyama, who is suspected of being the VIP, uploaded multiple posts on his Instagram account denying his involvement in the ongoing accusations. He also said he is looking at taking legal action against Korean news outlets that covered the scandal and named him.
Several Korean news outlets have reported the VIP's identity as Aoyama, the CEO of Japanese construction company KRH and husband of a famous Japanese actress.
He reportedly invested in a couple of Seungri's businesses including BC Holdings and Aori Ramen. He is known as the “Ferrari Prince” for his hobby of collecting expensive sports cars.
Heiress to Spanish football club
| Singaporean socialite Kim Lim with Seungri. / Capture from Instagram@Kimlimhl |
“Unanswered Questions” also reported a suspected link between Singaporean socialite Kim Lim and Seungri. Lim allegedly was part of the group for whom Seungri procured prostitutes.
After the report, she said on Instagram that she has nothing to do with Seungri's sex scandal and will take legal action on any further reports mentioning her name.
Lim, 27, is the daughter of billionaire Peter Lim. He is one of the wealthiest men in Singapore and owns Spanish football club Valencia.
| Kim Lim's post on Instagram / Capture from Instagram@Kimlimhl |