K-pop Big Bang member says to retire after alleged sex bribery case goes viral (updated)

YG Entertainment

11/03/2019 10:26

(Recasts)
    By Joori Roh
    SEOUL, March 11 (Reuters) - A member of South Korean K-pop
band Big Bang who uses the stage name Seungri will leave the
entertainment industry after his alleged sex bribery case swept
the country, he said on Monday.
    The decision came a day after he was charged with providing
prostitutes to foreign investors in his private club, media
said, driving down shares of his agency as much as 16 percent. 
    "I think it is about the right time to retire from show
business," the 28-year-old singer said on his Instagram account,
adding that he would cooperate with the police investigation
into the accusation.
    Police were not immediately available for comment.
    The K-pop star, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun,
apologised to his fans and said he had been branded a "traitor
to the nation".
    His agency, YG Entertainment Inc  122870.KQ , told Reuters
it did not have any fresh comment on his position.
    Shares of YG Entertainment fell as much as 15.6 percent on
Monday to their lowest since November 2018.
    Lee denied procuring prostitutes last month when media said
he had been involved in "sex bribery".
    In a statement after the February media report, YG
Entertainment said it was false.
    Seungri made his official debut in August 2006 along with
the group's other four members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang and
Daesung. It has drawn many fans across Asia in places such as
Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Taiwan.
    The scandal comes ahead of the singer's mandatory military
service, which all able-bodied South Korean men are required to
complete.
    All the other four group members are now serving in the
military. On Friday, the agency said the singer would join the
army this month to fulfil his military duties.

 (Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Robert Birsel, Ju-min Park)
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