Burning Sun scandal: KBS threatens legal action against BBC documentary
The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) has declared its intention to sue BBC News following the release of a documentary on the Burning Sun scandal. Per reports, the documentary implicated KBS in an illegal filming case involving South Korean singer Jung Joon-young, one of the main perpetrators in the case. On Tuesday, KBS's legal team refuted these claims, stating that allegations of their lawyers pressuring Jung's victims were "false and unfounded."
Why does this story matter?
Burning Sun, the documentary in question follows female journalists who courageously delved into the clandestine chat groups of influential K-pop idols, only to face significant personal repercussions. Its release has reignited scrutiny on KBS, amid allegations of the network's implication in Jung's illicit filming scandal. He filmed his sexual experiences with about 10 women and subsequently shared those videos in chat groups. Jung admitted to the crimes and was given five years in prison. However, he was released in March.
KBS denied involvement in pressuring Jung's victims
The network categorically denied claims that KBS lawyers had contacted and exerted pressure on victims of Jung. They stated, "When the victims say they were afraid after a lawyer advised they might face legal consequences if their evidence was insufficient after BBC narrates that KBS's lawyers contacted the victims, we would like to make it clear the lawyers were the victim's representatives."
KBS demanded BBC to correct documentary's misrepresentations
KBS's legal team is planning to request that BBC correct the alleged inaccuracies in their documentary via a press release. If BBC fails to comply, KBS has stated its intention to proceed with legal action. This move comes in response to the documentary's portrayal of unethical tactics allegedly used by Jung and KBS's lawyers to pressure a victim into retracting her accusations.
What was the Burning Sun scandal all about?
In 2019, South Korea witnessed its largest and most shocking sex scandal, implicating individuals in sex solicitation, the unauthorized recording of sexual videos, and corruption. It involved notable figures like Jung, BIGBANG's Seungri, along with business figures and police officials. These videos circulated within Jung's KakaoTalk group chat, which came to light during investigations into the scandal. On this, the documentary titled Burning Sun: Exposing the Secret K-pop Chat Groups was released on the BBC World Service YouTube channel.
