K-pop sex scandal forces third star to quit his band

A THIRD K-pop star has quit his band in a growing sex scandal that is engulfing South Korea’s normally strait-laced pop music scene.

Yong Jun-hyung, 29, resigned from his group, Highlight, yesterday after admitting to viewing a secretly filmed sex video, allegedly sent to an online chatroom by Jung Joon-young, 30, another high-profile TV personality, who faces a police investigation into the accusations.

Yong said his behaviour had been “extremely unethical, and I was stupid”.

“I’ll leave Highlight since I realised the seriousness of the issue and don’t want it to bring further damage to my fans,” he said on his Instagram page.

Yong was the third K-pop idol to be caught up in the scandal in a week.

The multi-billion-dollar global industry was shaken to the core on Monday when boyband Big Bang singer, Lee Seung-hyun, known as Seungri and the “Great Gatsby of Korea” for his opulent lifestyle, was charged on suspicion of supplying prostitutes to foreign investors in Seoul nightclubs.

The controversy deepened through an interlocking case, when Jung, who rose to fame after coming second in a TV talent show, admitted on Wednesday to having shared videos he took secretly while having sex with women.

Both men appeared for questioning at a Seoul police station yesterday and were besieged by press. “I once again lower my head and apologise to the people and all others who were hurt,” said Lee, bowing deeply. “I’ll faithfully undergo an investigation and give sincere answers,” he added.

Jung also pledged to “faithfully undergo an investigation.” He previously expressed remorse towards the affected women.

The police investigation has drawn attention to the dark underbelly of the K-pop industry, which trades on the untarnished image of its perfectly choreographed boy and girl bands.