Former BIGBANG member Seungri has been accused of assaulting a man in his 30s, but a photo believed to have been taken around the time of the incident has drawn fresh attention online.
On September 13, an overseas social media account identifying itself as a fan of Seungri shared photos reportedly taken in August. The images show Seungri sitting at a restaurant with several acquaintances, smiling toward the camera.
According to the report, the group was celebrating a birthday. Birthday cake, food and several bottles of soju can be seen on the tables.
Interestingly, the man who later filed the assault complaint against Seungri is reportedly among the people pictured with him.
The incident allegedly took place on August 8 at a restaurant in Seoul’s Gangnam district. Police received a complaint accusing Seungri of special assault involving a man in his 30s and are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Seungri has denied intentionally threatening or attacking the man. He explained that he had been having a meal with two acquaintances when the man, who was reportedly intoxicated, approached their table and repeatedly asked to join them.
According to Seungri’s account, the man continued talking about a business idea despite several refusals. Eventually, Seungri agreed to speak with him, and the two reportedly shared drinks and exchanged phone numbers.
Seungri also claimed that the man even accompanied him when he left the restaurant. He said the man later sent him a message saying that he would bring a business proposal the following week, making the subsequent assault complaint unexpected.
Seungri acknowledged that he picked up a bottle during the argument, but insisted that he did not swing it or use it to threaten the man.
He has reportedly secured text messages exchanged with the man, CCTV footage from inside the restaurant and witness statements. Seungri is also considering filing a counter-complaint for making a false accusation.
The police investigation is expected to determine what actually happened during the confrontation.
Seungri debuted as a member of BIGBANG in 2006 and retired from the entertainment industry in 2019 following the Burning Sun scandal. He was later convicted of multiple offenses, including habitual gambling, prostitution-related offenses, embezzlement and other charges. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld a sentence of one year and six months in prison, and he was released in February 2023.
The latest assault allegation remains under investigation, and no final determination has been made regarding the circumstances of the incident.