[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]Former BigBang member Seungri’s fall from K-pop stardom to prison and subsequent sightings have captured public attention for years. Here’s when he left BigBang officially and where he reportedly is now.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Seungri’s Official Exit from BigBang: The Complete Timeline
The Breaking Point: March 2019
Seungri (Lee Seunghyun) officially announced his exit from BigBang on March 11, 2019, via Instagram amid mounting legal troubles. The then 28-year-old star wrote: “At this point, I think it would be best if I retire from the entertainment industry,” adding that “the issues that I caused a societal disturbance with are too major.”
His retirement came after explosive allegations surfaced in January 2019 regarding a Seoul nightclub he managed. The establishment allegedly condoned sexual assault and provided drugged sexual partners to customers.
The situation escalated in late February when text messages emerged reportedly showing Seungri and associates discussing supplying prostitutes to potential business investors. These revelations triggered a widespread investigation into illegal activities throughout Seoul’s club scene.
The Legal Aftermath
Just one day before his retirement announcement, on March 10, 2019, Seungri was booked on charges of supplying prostitutes following a police raid on Arena, a Seoul nightclub. At the time, a police officer stated, “To secure a warrant for the raid aimed at addressing suspicions, we have booked Seungri as a suspect.”
The scandal marked a shocking end to Seungri’s 13-year career with YG Entertainment, which began in 2006. In his retirement post, he expressed a desire to protect “the honor of YG and BIGBANG” by stepping away.
The former idol was eventually sentenced to prison, serving 18 months before his release in 2024.
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Seungri is reportedly set to be released from prison on February 11th.
He was indicted for 9 criminal charges, including solicitation of illegal prostitution, illegal overseas gambling, the spread of illegally filmed sexual content, embezzlement, threatening, and assault. pic.twitter.com/LWCDpjQeo9
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 6, 2023
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Reported 2025 Sightings of Seungri
After maintaining a low profile following his 2024 prison release, Seungri has reportedly been spotted in Seoul in March 2025. According to online community posts, the disgraced former star was seen at bone hangover soup restaurants in both Songpa-gu and Sinsa-dong.
One witness claimed, “I saw Seungri at a bone hangover soup restaurant in Songpa-gu. He was with a very pretty woman, quietly eating like a thief. Everyone in the restaurant recognized him but pretended not to.”
Another account from the same day described seeing him at a Sinsa-dong restaurant, noting, “He entered a private room with curtains, and a staff member discreetly took his order. Many people recognized him but chose to ignore it.”
These alleged sightings suggest the former K-pop idol may be cautiously reemerging in public spaces, though he continues to avoid the spotlight that once defined his career.
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