Former Big Bang member Seungri, who was spotted at a bone soup restaurant in Seoul, has now been seen in China.
On the 19th, local Chinese media such as Sohu Entertainment reported, "Seungri appeared at a nightclub in Hangzhou," providing an update on his situation.
According to the report, Seungri entered the venue under the protection of bodyguards. Seungri kept his head down and remained silent throughout, but numerous fans screamed and watched him closely. In particular, local media explained Seungri's appearance, stating, "He has gained a lot of weight, and his previous idol look is nowhere to be found."
However, reactions on the ground in China are cold. Local media pointed out, "To conduct cultural and artistic activities normally, one must register with the Ministry of Culture. Additional verification is needed to determine whether Seungri's event was registered with the Ministry of Culture. This information will only be known after the Ministry's investigation is complete."
In particular, it was criticized, "Seungri appearing at a nightclub in Hangzhou despite a criminal record and seeking opportunities for a return to the Chinese market and revenue generation is a blatant provocation of China's laws and morals."
Seungri, identified as a key figure in the Burning Sun Gate in 2019, received a sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison for nine charges, including habitual gambling, prostitution, facilitation of prostitution, violations of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes, violations of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, violations of the Food Sanitation Act, embezzlement in the course of business, and violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement), as well as charges of instigating special assault, and was released on parole last February.
Choosing to transform into a businessman rather than returning to the entertainment industry, Seungri has mainly been active overseas and was spotted in a club. Notably, prior to the sighting at the Hangzhou nightclub, he was captured dining with a woman at a bone soup restaurant located in Songpa District, Seoul, which attracted considerable attention. At that time, netizens reported, "Seungri was eating (bone soup) like a thief, with a very pretty woman," and said, "It was packed with people, and everyone knew it was Seungri but pretended not to. However, an older woman approached him, handed him a large piece of paper, and loudly asked for an autograph. Seungri took a couple of bites and then got up."
[OSEN = Reporter Jang Woo-young]