Former BIGBANG Seungri's military discharge this September has been put on hold after filing an appeal against his 3-year prison sentence during his first trial.
On October 1, Korean media outlet Star News reported that Seungri, a former BIGBANG member, and K-pop idol was put on hold from the military service after appealing to the three-year prison sentence in the first trial.
Seungri Objected on the First Trial's 3-Year Prison Sentence, Filed a Bilateral Appeal
In particular, Seungri joined the military on March 9, 2020, and around September of the same year, the male idol was pointed out as a key figure in the Burning Sun scandal.
Although he was promoted as a sergeant in June 2021 as scheduled, it was then expected that he will have his military discharge on September 16.
However, on this day, it was confirmed that after both Seungri and the military prosecution later objected to the first trial in August and appealed, and as of September 8, they were filed with the High Military Court as a bilateral appeal — thus, the end of his military service was put on hold.
A military official said, "I can't reveal you many details, but Seungri's military discharge is currently on hold," adding, "If he was tried in the first trial as a soldier and sentenced to court custody, the soldier's discharge will be suspended."
The official further explained, "In this case, soldiers who were tried like this are transferred to military prisons, although they briefly moved to camps within the military police force immediately after the sentence. This generally does not make any exceptions."
ALSO READ: Ex-Big Bang Member Seungri Submits an Appeal - Round 2 of His Trial Begins
Former BIGBANG Seungri's Case: Why is the Idol Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
In context, Seungri was embroiled in various suspicions related to the incident at Burning Sun in early 2019, leading him to be expelled from the entertainment industry for sexual crimes accusations.
In 2020, he was sent to the prosecution for violating the Prostitution Punishment Act (mediation, prostitution), occupational embezzlement, professional embezzlement under the Special Police Act, and violation of the Special Act on Sexual Violence (camera, etc.) — later on, he was indicted on charges without detention for violating the aforementioned acts.
In August 2021, Ground Operations Command's ordinary military court sentenced Seungri to three years in prison and an additional fine of 1.156.9 billion won, and "will be subject to the registration of personal information related to sex crimes."
Despite the prison sentence in the first trial, Seungri has denied most of his nine charges through trials. Of the eight existing charges, only simple gambling and illegal filming were admitted, and additional charges of special assault teachers were denied.
In addition to this, Seungri also said that he suffered from unimaginable pressure from the police to investigate and said, "There was a constant injustice at the time of the investigation during the trial."
READ MORE: Former BIGBANG Seungri Denies Majority of Charges Against Him in Latest Court Hearing
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Written by Eunice Dawson
