Girls’ Generation’s Yuri’s brother only serves a brief prison sentence for his crimes, sparking public outrage.
On May 19, BBC released a documentary on the Burning Sun scandal. The documentary, “Burning Sun – Exposing The Secret K-pop Chat Groups,” unveiled many previously undisclosed details about the shocking 2019 case.
Alongside Seungri, Jung Joon Young, and Choi Jong Hoon, another man involved was Kwon Hyuk Jun, the older brother of Girls’ Generation’s Yuri’s. The documentary revealed more horrific crimes committed by Kwon Hyuk Jun
Horrific Crimes Unveiled: Drugging, Raping, and Molka
Journalist Kang Kyung Yoon disclosed that Kwon Hyuk Jun was part of Choi Jong Hoon’s circle of friends. Yuri’s brother went to a ski resort with Choi Jong Hoon and some girls. There, he drugged, raped, and filmed the girls.
“They shared drinks, and the girls said that shortly after drinking, they almost lost their memory. In that state, they were secretly filmed. One of the photos was taken from the first floor looking down to the ground floor,” Kang Kyung Yoon revealed.
The group of five men recorded videos of Yuri’s brother raping a girl: “Another video showed a man and a woman having sex from behind, through an open door, as if it were a joke. Messages from Jung Joon Young and Choi Jong Hoon’s group chat indicated that the girl was raped while unconscious. I have enough evidence to suspect that these women were completely unconscious,” said Kang Kyung Yoon.
After being arrested, Kwon Hyuk Jun initially claimed that he only participated in the business chat group because he was once an investment partner in the Mildang Pocha bar with Seungri.
He later publicly apologized, hoping the incident would not affect his family members: “Everything is my fault, all due to my negligence. I feel the weight of guilt every day. I had no intention of hurting anyone with force or coercion. I will live more sincerely with my fiancÉe, my family, and my celebrity sister. I will take responsibility for my crimes, which have caused permanent, irreparable harm to the victims.”
Short Prison Sentence and Attempted New Life Cause Public Outrage
After investigation and trial, Kwon Hyuk Jun, along with Burning Sun staff member “Kim” and former entertainment company employee “Heo,” was charged with gang rape, filming, and distributing obscene videos. The prosecution sought a 10-year prison sentence for Kwon Hyuk Jun, the heaviest among the five suspects on trial.
In November 2019, Kwon Hyuk Jun was convicted of participating in sexual assault and illegal chat group activities. The 10-year sentence was unexpectedly reduced to 4 years in prison. Kwon Hyuk Jun appealed to the Seoul High Court but was denied, serving the original 4-year sentence. Currently, Yuri’s brother is in prison and will be released in 4 months.
Kwon Hyuk Jun was sentenced to 4 years in prison and will be released in 4 months. In 2019, Kwon Hyuk Jun legally changed his name to Kwon Yeon Oh. This was seen as an attempt to “reinvent” himself and start anew. The short sentence and his actions to hide his identity have caused public outrage. Yuri’s reputation has also been affected by her brother’s crimes.
Before the sentencing, Kwon Hyuk Jun was an office worker with dreams of becoming a singer. Although not a celebrity, he once appeared on “I Can See Your Voice.” At that time, he garnered keen attention. No one could have imagined that behind his gentle appearance was a complicit with Seungri, committing unforgivable crimes.