Former South Korean K-pop star known as Seungri was sentenced to three years in prison and fined nearly $1 million on Thursday after a court convicted him of crimes including procuring prostitutes for potential investors, local media reported. 
 
The trial of Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, is part of a far-reaching scandal involving a network of pop stars, businessmen and cops alleged to have colluded and enabled tax evasion, bribery, and prostitution at some of the glitziest clubs in Seoul`s swanky Gangnam district. 
 
Lee, 30, a former member of hit group BIGBANG, was called up for mandatory military service shortly after his indictment, prompting his trial to be transferred to a military court. 
 
The court found Lee guilty of nine charges, including embezzling funds from the nightclubs, overseas gambling, and procuring prostitutes for foreign investors in his business, Yonhap reported. South Korean citizens are banned by law from gambling at casinos even when travelling abroad. 
 
Lee, who appeared in uniform at the military court in Yongin, south of Seoul, shook his head as he listened to the sentence, which also included an order for him to pay a fine worth 1.15 billion won ($990,000). 
 
Reuters attempts to reach the military court and Lee`s lawyer for comment were not immediately successful. Lee denied most of the charges. 
 
The scandal, which was centred around several nightclubs that Lee was involved in, also swept up other K-pop stars, including Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon, who in 2019 were sentenced to six and five years in prison, respectively, after they were convicted of gang-raping a woman. 
 
Jung was also found guilty of filming the assault and distributing the footage, which came to light when police were investigating Lee. Sentences for both Jung and Choi were later reduced. 
 
YG Entertainment Inc, the agency that had represented Lee until he was forced to quit the entertainment industry after the allegations surfaced in March 2019, was not immediately available for comment on the ruling. 
 
Lee made his official debut in August 2006 along with BIGBANG`s four other members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang and Daesung. They are not implicated in the scandal. 
 
BIGBANG is still wildly popular despite the four remaining members taking breaks for their military service, which all completed in 2019. A comeback reunion was planned for the Coachella music festival last year, but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. 
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Former South Korean K-pop star known as Seungri was sentenced to three years in prison and fined nearly $1 million on Thursday after a court convicted him of crimes including procuring prostitutes for potential investors, local media reported.

Former South Korean K-pop star known as Seungri was sentenced to three years in prison and fined nearly $1 million on Thursday after a court convicted him of crimes including procuring prostitutes for potential investors, local media reported. The trial of Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, is part of a far-reaching scandal involving a network of pop stars, businessmen and cops alleged to have colluded and enabled tax evasion, bribery, and prostitution at some of the glitziest clubs in Seoul`s swanky Gangnam district. Lee, 30, a former member of hit group BIGBANG, was called up for mandatory military service shortly after his indictment, prompting his trial to be transferred to a military court. The court found Lee guilty of nine charges, including embezzling funds from the nightclubs, overseas gambling, and procuring prostitutes for foreign investors in his business, Yonhap reported. South Korean citizens are banned by law from gambling at casinos even when travelling abroad. Lee, who appeared in uniform at the military court in Yongin, south of Seoul, shook his head as he listened to the sentence, which also included an order for him to pay a fine worth 1.15 billion won ($990,000). Reuters attempts to reach the military court and Lee`s lawyer for comment were not immediately successful. Lee denied most of the charges. The scandal, which was centred around several nightclubs that Lee was involved in, also swept up other K-pop stars, including Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon, who in 2019 were sentenced to six and five years in prison, respectively, after they were convicted of gang-raping a woman. Jung was also found guilty of filming the assault and distributing the footage, which came to light when police were investigating Lee. Sentences for both Jung and Choi were later reduced. YG Entertainment Inc, the agency that had represented Lee until he was forced to quit the entertainment industry after the allegations surfaced in March 2019, was not immediately available for comment on the ruling. Lee made his official debut in August 2006 along with BIGBANG`s four other members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang and Daesung. They are not implicated in the scandal. BIGBANG is still wildly popular despite the four remaining members taking breaks for their military service, which all completed in 2019. A comeback reunion was planned for the Coachella music festival last year, but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Former K-pop singer Seungri jailed for three years over prostitution, fraud scandal

South Korean military prosecution demanded a five-year prison term for disgraced former K-pop star&nbsp;Seungri&nbsp;over charges stemming from a sex and drug scandal, reports said Thursday.

The 30-year-old singer from popular boyband BIGBANG has been indicted on accusations including arranging prostitution, embezzlement and illicit gambling.

He enlisted as an army conscript last year, with the military court hearing his trial.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/celebrity-news-former-k-pop-star-seungri-indicted-for-prostitution-laws-violation-may-face-military-court-278826">Former K-pop star Seungri indicted for prostitution laws violation may face military court</a>

All able-bodied South Korean men are obliged to fulfil around two years of military service to defend the country from nuclear-armed North Korea, with which it remains technically at war.

Military prosecutors on Thursday asked the judge to impose a five-year jail term and a 20 million won (US$18,000) fine.

"Even though the accused is the one who benefited the most from the crime, he is blaming others and severe punishment is needed," local reports cited the prosecutors as saying.

BIGBANG enjoyed widespread fame following its 2006 debut and&nbsp;Seungri&nbsp;went on to become a successful businessman, but the public backlash over the scandal and formal investigations caused him to retire from showbiz in 2019.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-star-seungri-accused-of-illicit-gambling-246118">K-pop star Seungri accused of illicit gambling</a>

Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, is accused of habitual overseas gambling at luxurious casinos&nbsp;in Las Vegas involving illicit foreign exchange transactions.

He is also suspected of arranging sex services for potential investors in his business.

The investigation into the scandal surrounding him uncovered a spate of allegations against other musicians and personnel at YG Entertainment --&nbsp;Seungri's former agency and one of the biggest K-pop management firms.

It prompted the agency CEO Yang Hyun-suk to step down last year facing probes of his own into illicit gambling.

South Korean military prosecution demanded a five-year prison term for disgraced former K-pop star Seungri over charges stemming from a sex and drug scandal, reports said Thursday.

South Korean military prosecution demanded a five-year prison term for disgraced former K-pop star Seungri over charges stemming from a sex and drug scandal, reports said Thursday. The 30-year-old singer from popular boyband BIGBANG has been indicted on accusations including arranging prostitution, embezzlement and illicit gambling. He enlisted as an army conscript last year, with the military court hearing his trial. Also read | Former K-pop star Seungri indicted for prostitution laws violation may face military court All able-bodied South Korean men are obliged to fulfil around two years of military service to defend the country from nuclear-armed North Korea, with which it remains technically at war. Military prosecutors on Thursday asked the judge to impose a five-year jail term and a 20 million won (US$18,000) fine. "Even though the accused is the one who benefited the most from the crime, he is blaming others and severe punishment is needed," local reports cited the prosecutors as saying. BIGBANG enjoyed widespread fame following its 2006 debut and Seungri went on to become a successful businessman, but the public backlash over the scandal and formal investigations caused him to retire from showbiz in 2019. Also read | K-pop star Seungri accused of illicit gambling Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, is accused of habitual overseas gambling at luxurious casinos in Las Vegas involving illicit foreign exchange transactions. He is also suspected of arranging sex services for potential investors in his business. The investigation into the scandal surrounding him uncovered a spate of allegations against other musicians and personnel at YG Entertainment -- Seungri's former agency and one of the biggest K-pop management firms. It prompted the agency CEO Yang Hyun-suk to step down last year facing probes of his own into illicit gambling.

Korea prosecutors seek 5 years jail for former K-pop star Seungri: Reports

It’s never a dull day in the lives of Korean pop stars. In a follow up to Korean pop star having been charged with South Korea’s anti-prostitution law, he now may have to join the country’s army and face trial in a military court.

Former Big Bang member Seungri whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, was indicted on charges of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-big-bang-member-booked-on-alleged-sex-bribery-company-shares-drop-202510">violating laws on prostitution</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-star-seungri-accused-of-illicit-gambling-246118">illegal gambling</a> and foreign currency trading.

On Tuesday, the state-run Military Manpower Administration announced that it has sent Seungri documents asking him to report for 21 months of mandatory military service, a requirement for all able-bodied men in South Korea because prosecutors had ended their investigation of him.

In a statement, the Military Manpower Administration said that it was concerned a protracted trial in civilian courts would hamper its effort to equally apply the military obligation on Seungri, 29.

It said Seungri’s case will be handed over to a military court if he joins the military.

For those unversed, in South Korea, men eligible for military service are allowed to delay their conscription five times under certain conditions before they become 3. This delayed time can, however, not exceed two years.

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-sex-scandal-after-seungri-and-jung-highlight-boy-band-member-yong-jun-hyung-quits-showbiz-203413">K-pop sex scandal: After Seungri and Jung, Highlight boy band member Yong Jun-hyung quits showbiz</a></h2>

Seungri postponed his conscription in March 2019.&nbsp;

It’s never a dull day in the lives of Korean pop stars. In a follow up to Korean pop star having been charged with South Korea’s anti-prostitution law, he now may have to join the country’s army and face trial in a military court.

It’s never a dull day in the lives of Korean pop stars. In a follow up to Korean pop star having been charged with South Korea’s anti-prostitution law, he now may have to join the country’s army and face trial in a military court. Former Big Bang member Seungri whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, was indicted on charges of violating laws on prostitution, illegal gambling and foreign currency trading. On Tuesday, the state-run Military Manpower Administration announced that it has sent Seungri documents asking him to report for 21 months of mandatory military service, a requirement for all able-bodied men in South Korea because prosecutors had ended their investigation of him. In a statement, the Military Manpower Administration said that it was concerned a protracted trial in civilian courts would hamper its effort to equally apply the military obligation on Seungri, 29. It said Seungri’s case will be handed over to a military court if he joins the military. For those unversed, in South Korea, men eligible for military service are allowed to delay their conscription five times under certain conditions before they become 3. This delayed time can, however, not exceed two years. K-pop sex scandal: After Seungri and Jung, Highlight boy band member Yong Jun-hyung quits showbiz Seungri postponed his conscription in March 2019.

Former K-pop star Seungri indicted for prostitution laws violation may face military court