[Current & Culture] Burning Sun Is Not Over

Shocking Revelations from BBC Documentary
All Celebrity Sex Crime Offenders Released
Resuming Overseas Activities Without Genuine Remorse

Lee Jae-ik, SBS Radio PD and Novelist

BBC News Korea has released a somewhat lengthy-titled documentary: "Burning Sun: The Stories of Women Who Exposed K-pop Stars' Secret Chatrooms."

Pay attention to the title. Just as the Netflix series "I Am a God: People Betrayed by God" specifically highlighted victims of cults with a subtitle, the BBC documentary focuses on the whistleblowers. The content is quite shocking. Despite the Burning Sun case having been extensively covered and reported over a long period, the documentary boldly reveals uncensored KakaoTalk chatroom screenshots of Burning Sun members and actual on-site footage that were previously either pixelated or toned down. The response has been intense; within just a few days of being uploaded on YouTube, it has surpassed 7 million views and looks poised to reach 10 million.

Having worked at a broadcasting station for 25 years, I have observed the entertainment industry from a slightly closer distance than the general public, and among the many scandals that have erupted in the entertainment world, the Burning Sun case remains the most vivid in my memory. This is because one of the fixed panelists on the current affairs program I co-directed and hosted at the time was Kang Kyung-yoon, a key figure featured in this documentary. Thanks to her, I received vivid reports on the Burning Sun investigation every week. She carried a resolute sense of mission. Given that the case involved not only major entertainment agencies but also the police organization, the pressure must have been immense, yet she never wavered and continued her investigation and reporting. Remarkably, she was even pregnant at the time. As the host, I was worried and often advised her to be careful, but she would always respond, "Those who did wrong should be careful."

The documentary also features the late singer Goo Hara. She reportedly called Kang Kyung-yoon first to provide a crucial tip and encouraged her not to stop investigating. As many know, Goo Hara herself was a victim of illegal filming crimes. Kang Kyung-yoon also later revealed that she had been illegally filmed when she was twenty years old. In other words, the solidarity among victims was the primary force that brought the Burning Sun case to light and pushed for investigation and prosecution. This is likely why the BBC documentary focuses on the "exposures." Applause to the brave whistleblowers.

This raises a philosophical question: Does punishment erase guilt? Legally, the principle of ne bis in idem (double jeopardy) applies. However, for celebrities who live off public attention, public forgiveness is as important as legal punishment. Forgiveness depends on how the offender behaves. Even after fulfilling legal responsibilities, one must genuinely repent and consistently show changed behavior to have a chance at a comeback. Without demonstrating genuine reform, suspicion and criticism are inevitable. Even if it feels unfair, it cannot be helped. The essence of being a celebrity is that if you entertain the public, you gain money and popularity; if you upset them, you pay a harsh price.

What about the current status of the perpetrators in the Burning Sun case? All have completed their prison terms and been released. Jung Joon-young is preparing to emigrate overseas, and Choi Jong-hoon has started activities in Japan. It seems he attends church with his mother, but recently, a video was released showing him threatening reporters by invoking God. Seungri, who was the ringleader of the sexual crime group, has been the most unabashed in his activities since release. Videos of him performing Big Bang's hit songs at events or flaunting friendships with celebrity acquaintances are easy to find. None of them have ever been heard to repeatedly apologize to the victims or even perform token volunteer work. No genuine remorse at all. So, they should neither dream of forgiveness nor a comeback.

Lee Jae-ik, SBS Radio PD and Novelist