Former BIGBANG member Seungri / Yonhap

Former BIGBANG member Seungri has denied rumors that he would attend a "Burning Sun" event in Indonesia.

The U.S.-based hallyu media outlet Allkpop reported that an event management company, TSV Management, announced a "Burning Sun" event to be held at a "gentlemen's club" in Surabaya, Indonesia. Burning Sun refers to a nightclub Seungri was closely affiliated with, which became the center of a 2019 sex crime scandal involving K-pop stars.

Following this report, speculation arose regarding Seungri's attendance at the event. TSV Management released a poster on social media featuring Seungri's photo, fueling the rumors.

Seungri is embroiled in rumors regarding his attendance at a 'Burning Sun' event. Captured from TSV Management's social media

However, in an interview with Ilgan Sports, Seungri refuted these claims, saying, "I don't even know where the location mentioned in the article is. I have no plans to attend. It's absurd that such unfounded rumors have spread so widely."

Seungri also said that he would take strong legal action through a local law firm against the dissemination of false information.

He clarified that his past visit to Cambodia for a party was for personal reasons and denied any involvement in opening a club in Hong Kong.

Separately, the Maeil Business Newspaper reported Monday that Seungri was recently spotted at a club while staying in Indonesia.

Seungri was seen multiple times on Saturday at a club in Bali, Indonesia. The distance from Bali to Surabaya, the location for the "Burning Sun" event, is approximately 300 kilometers in a straight line and takes about 50 minutes by plane.

In the video obtained by the newspaper, Seungri is seen conversing with one or two women who appear to be Korean at the club.

Seungri was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in 2022 on multiple charges, including soliciting prostitution and embezzlement. He was released from Yeoju Prison on Feb. 9, 2023, after serving his sentence.

Despite his release, Seungri has continued to attract controversy. In January this year, he was spotted at a party in Cambodia, dancing to "Good Boy," a duet by BIGBANG members G-Dragon and Taeyang, and reportedly saying "Someday, I'll bring G-Dragon here."

Seungri is currently living abroad and has stepped away from the Korean entertainment industry.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.