From K-Pop Star to the Center of a Scandal
For years, the name Seungri was inseparable from global K-pop success.
As the youngest member of BIGBANG, one of South Korea’s most influential music groups, he was once praised as a natural entertainer with sharp business instincts.
That image collapsed in 2019.
Seungri became the central figure in the Burning Sun scandal, an incident that exposed one of the darkest criminal networks ever uncovered in the Korean entertainment industry.
The fallout was devastating, not only for him, but for public trust in celebrity culture. 
Now, years after his release from prison, new allegations suggest that Seungri may be attempting to return.
This time, the stage is not Seoul.
It is Cambodia.
The Burning Sun Scandal That Ended a Career
In early 2019, a violent assault case at the Gangnam nightclub Burning Sun triggered a police investigation.
What initially appeared to be a single incident quickly expanded into a massive criminal case.
Burning Sun was later revealed to be linked to prostitution brokerage, illegal drug distribution, sexual assault, hidden camera crimes, and police corruption.
Seungri, who served as a director of the club, claimed that he was only involved in promotion.
That claim did not survive scrutiny.
Investigators uncovered KakaoTalk group chats involving Seungri and singer Jung Joon-young, exposing explicit messages and discussions that pointed to organized sexual exploitation.
The evidence suggested that the nightclub functioned as a tool for criminal profit rather than entertainment.
Seungri was eventually convicted on multiple charges, including mediation of prostitution, embezzlement, and illegal gambling.
He received a prison sentence, effectively ending his career in South Korea.
Release From Prison and Quiet Overseas Moves
After serving approximately eighteen months, Seungri was released.
Contrary to expectations, he did not disappear from public life.
Instead, reports began to surface of him traveling abroad.
In May 2024, he was allegedly seen performing BIGBANG songs at a private birthday event for a wealthy businessman in Kuala Lumpur.
In August of the same year, a gentlemen’s club in Surabaya, Indonesia, announced an event named Burning Sun Surabaya, with Seungri listed as a special guest.
The event name directly referenced his infamous nightclub.
Public backlash in both South Korea and Indonesia was immediate.
Facing protests and criticism, the event was canceled.
At the time, these incidents were dismissed by some as isolated attempts to profit from nostalgia.
That interpretation is now being questioned.
Cambodia and a Troubling Video
In January 2026, South Korean investigative journalist Oh Heok-jin released new findings on his YouTube channel.
He claimed that Seungri was involved in plans to build a new illegal entertainment operation in Cambodia.
A video recorded in 2024 began circulating online.
It showed Seungri inside a Cambodian nightclub, holding a microphone and addressing the crowd with visible excitement.
His appearance had changed.
He looked heavier and older, yet energized.
In the video, he mocked concerns about Cambodia’s safety and praised the country as the best place in Asia.
He also mentioned that one day he would bring G-Dragon to Cambodia.
Many interpreted this as an attempt to use the name of Kwon Ji-yong, better known as G-Dragon, to generate attention and attract investors.
The Logo Behind Him Raised Alarms
What caused greater concern was not his speech, but the backdrop behind him.
Large logos reading Prince Brewing and Prince Holdings were clearly visible.
These companies are reportedly linked to the Prince Group, a criminal organization accused by multiple countries of operating online scam compounds and forced labor facilities in Cambodia.
The Prince Group has been associated with human trafficking, unlawful detention, sexual exploitation, and large-scale cryptocurrency fraud.
Victims from several countries have reported being lured into scam centers and held against their will.
According to Oh Heok-jin, Seungri’s appearance alongside symbols tied to this group was no coincidence.
Alleged Ties to Criminal Financiers
In his investigation, Oh stated that he received multiple credible tips indicating that Seungri frequently traveled between Thailand and Cambodia after his release.
During these trips, he allegedly socialized with figures involved in money laundering, online fraud, and illegal casinos.
Footage and testimonies suggest that Seungri attended private parties with key members of these networks.
According to Oh, it is implausible that these meetings were merely social.
Sources familiar with the situation claim that the discussions focused on concrete business plans.
The goal was reportedly to create a new illegal entertainment venue, modeled after Burning Sun but on a larger scale.
A Celebrity Image Still Has Value
While Seungri is widely condemned in South Korea, his name still carries weight elsewhere.
In parts of Japan and Southeast Asia, his identity as a former BIGBANG member continues to attract fans and attention.
That residual fame is valuable.
According to insiders, criminal groups saw Seungri as a useful figure who could draw crowds and gain access to elite social circles.
For Seungri, his remaining celebrity status became a bargaining chip, a way to reenter lucrative but illegal ventures.
The Collapse of His Alleged Backers
Just as these plans were reportedly taking shape, the situation changed.
Members of the Prince Group who were believed to be potential financiers were suddenly arrested.
Some are now facing extradition to their home countries.
The group’s alleged leader has become the target of a global manhunt led by the United States Department of Justice.
British authorities have frozen assets held in London, and investigators are pursuing cryptocurrency holdings estimated at fifteen billion dollars.
With its leadership dismantled and assets seized, the future of the group is uncertain.
A Plan That May Never Materialize
Whether Seungri’s alleged new venture will ever become reality remains unclear.
What is clear is that his name continues to surface alongside criminal networks years after his conviction.
For many observers, this raises troubling questions about accountability and redemption.
Others see it as a warning about how celebrity influence can persist long after public disgrace.
If the financial backers truly fall, this chapter may end before it begins.
But the story serves as a reminder.
Some scandals do not stay buried.
They evolve, cross borders, and resurface where scrutiny is weaker.
And not every fall from fame leads to reflection.
