A K-pop singer and TV celebrity admitted to secretly filming himself having sex with women and uploading footage online without their permission.
Jung Joon-young, 30, who rose to fame as the runner-up in a TV talent show, said he would retire immediately after admitting sharing the videos of several women on a chatroom.
The K-pop scandal comes one day after Big Bang band member Seungri announced his retirement to fight charges of involvement in a prostitution ring.
Jung Joon-young said: “I filmed women without their permission and shared it in a chatroom, and while I was doing so I did not feel a great sense of guilt.”
“Most of all, I kneel down to apologise to the women in the videos and those who might be disappointed and upset by this shocking incident.”
“I admit to all my crimes,” he said.
Police charged the singer with illegal filming and leaking visual material on Tuesday evening.
Jung Joon-young was one of three male artists, allegedly including Seungri, who were members of the chatroom in which secretly filmed footage of at least 10 women were reportedly shared.
The practice, known as “Molka”, where clandestine videos of a sexual nature end up online, has skyrocketed in South Korea since 2014.
SM Entertainment talent agency dismissed rumours that one of its stars and boy band EXO member was the third male artist in the chatroom.
The agency said: “It is a groundless rumour. We’ll take all legal measures against those who are found to have committed unlawful acts.”
These latest allegations against Seungri and Jung Joon-young have sent shock waves through the K-pop industry, which generates billions of dollars for the country’s economy.
