[Breaking News] Supreme Court Confirms 1 Year 6 Months Prison Sentence for Big Bang's Seungri on 'Procuring Prostitution and Habitual Gambling' Charges

Singer Seungri, formerly of the group 'Big Bang'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The guilty verdict for Seungri (real name Lee Seung-hyun, 32), a singer formerly of the group 'Big Bang,' on charges including procuring prostitution and habitual gambling has been finalized.

On the 26th, the Supreme Court's 1st Division (Presiding Justice No Tae-ak) held a sentencing hearing for Seungri, who was indicted on nine charges including habitual gambling, violation of the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (prostitution and procuring prostitution, filming using cameras), embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes, incitement to special assault, violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, violation of the Food Sanitation Act, and embezzlement in the course of business. The court upheld the lower court's ruling recognizing all charges as guilty and sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in prison.

Regarding the confiscation of chips borrowed at the casino, which was a point of contention, the Supreme Court maintained the second trial's judgment that these chips are not foreign payment instruments subject to reporting under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, and therefore cannot be subject to confiscation or seizure.