SEOUL -- Big Hit Music, K-pop wonder BTS' label, has vowed to take legal action against a media report that claimed BTS members were frequent visitors of a private adult bar in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam. Currently, actor Lee Sun-kyun and boy band BIGBANG member G-Dragon were booked by law enforcers on suspicion of drug abuse and the bar was pointed as the main venue for drug parties.
South Korea's entertainment scene was suddenly engulfed in shock in late October when the 48-year-old actor who starred in the 2019 film "Parasite”, and the 35-year-old singer were booked by police for drug abuse. The law enforcers said that they obtained evidence that the two stars used drugs including marijuana.
The Hallyu (Korean cultural wave) stars were investigated to be members of a private adult entertainment bar located in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam, famous for rapper Psy's 2012 global hit song "Gangnam Style."
Through an exclusive story, South Korean online media outlet "The Freedom and Life" reported on October 26, that some members of BTS, who have not yet enlisted, were also frequent visitors of the private bar along with Lee and G-Dragon. Currently, four BTS members -- Jimin, V, Jungkook, and RM -- have not yet started their mandatory military service.
The media outlet also mentioned the names of other celebrities including popular baseball players, claiming that the Gangnam bar has been a venue for drug parties and illegal drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine and there are some other adult bars that are operated in a similar way.
Big Hit denied the media report, saying that members of the seven-member band had nothing to do with the groundless rumors. "BTS is unrelated to the rumors, and it is totally untrue. We will take strong action against irresponsible acts of spreading rumors," a Big Hit official told Aju Korea Daily on October 27.
G-Dragon also denied rumors that claimed the singer used drugs. The singer said in a statement on October 27: "It is not true that I have used any kinds of drugs." G-Dragon claimed that he is not related to any media reports that claimed the singer violated laws regarding the illegal use of drugs.
"However, because I know that many people are worried, I will sincerely cooperate with investigators," G-Dragon said. The singer was booked on October 25 for illegal drug use.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
