Seungri's 'Club Opening Rumor'... Hong Kong Government Says "Approval Requires Qualifications"

Spokesperson: "No Visa Applications from Korean Entertainers"

Former Big Bang member Seungri is reportedly planning to open a club in Hong Kong, but the Hong Kong government has stated that Seungri's side has not applied for a visa. The Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 24th, citing a statement from a Hong Kong government spokesperson, saying, "The government has not received any visa application from the former Korean entertainer."

In August 2019, Seungri appeared at the police station.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The spokesperson explained, "Currently, Korean nationals can stay in Hong Kong for only 90 days without a visa," adding, "There has been no application for a talent admission scheme visa from the individual mentioned earlier." The talent admission scheme visa is available to those who have been offered high salaries locally or have graduated from the world's top universities.

The Hong Kong government also stated that it will take strict measures in the future regarding Seungri's visa approval process. The spokesperson emphasized, "Relevant government departments will perform strong gatekeeping roles to ensure that only qualified individuals' employment visa applications are approved according to established procedures."

Earlier, some Hong Kong media reported that Seungri recently purchased a luxury residence in Hong Kong and is planning to open a club. The rumors about Seungri settling in Hong Kong became a hot topic on local social networking services (SNS), especially in connection with the so-called 'Burning Sun scandal.'

Kang Kyung-yoon, an SBS reporter who appeared in a BBC documentary revisiting the Burning Sun scandal, shared an update on Seungri on the SBS radio show "Kim Taehyun's Political Show" on the 22nd. He said, "(Seungri) is reportedly making great efforts to continue his business," adding, "Even before his detention, he actually wanted to focus more on business than his singing career, and although that direction went terribly wrong and led to crimes, he is still trying to continue."

Seungri debuted in 2006 as a member of the group Big Bang. During their peak, Big Bang released numerous hit songs and was a K-pop star recognized both domestically and internationally. However, Seungri was sentenced to prison for charges including embezzling funds from Burning Sun, a club in Gangnam, Seoul, where he was a director, and facilitating prostitution for foreign investors. As the controversy grew, he withdrew from Big Bang in March 2019. After serving one and a half years in prison, Seungri was released in February last year upon completion of his sentence.