Seungri
Lee Seung-hyun, better known by the stage names Seungri and V.I, is a South Korean former singer-songwriter and was a member of the South Korean boy band BigBang formed by YG Entertainment. A key figure of the Burning Sun scandal, he was convicted in 2020 for prostitution mediation and embezzlement.
In the mid-2000s, Seungri rose to prominence as a member of the South Korean boy band BigBang. With the release of the group's second studio album Remember, which included a solo performance by Seungri, he began to adopt a more mature image as an artist. Seungri furthered this image with the release of his chart-topping EP, V.V.I.P. It yielded two singles: "VVIP" and "What Can I Do". His second Korean EP Let's Talk About Love fared better, becoming his second number one album with 80,000 copies sold. It was supported by "Gotta Talk to You", which was later re-released in Japan as his first full Japanese studio album, with re-recordings of his previous songs in Japanese. He then released his first Korean studio album, The Great Seungri. Outside of music, he made his theatrical debut with the musical Sonagi in 2008 and went on to star in films such as Nineteen and Why Did You Come to My House?. He started in television with the Japanese drama Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo and the South Korean television series Angel Eyes.
On March 11, 2019, Seungri departed from BigBang and retired from the entertainment industry after allegations that he provided sex workers for investors in his business ventures. He was charged with sexual bribery and embezzlement, and convicted in 2020 after the police investigation of the Burning Sun scandal. The military trial of Seungri began on September 16, 2020, during his mandatory military service in South Korea. He denied 7 of the 8 charges against him. The military court found Seungri guilty on all charges and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment and a fine of on August 12, 2021, which was reduced to 18 months on January 27, 2022, based on his admission of guilt. During the sentence reduction, Seungri pleaded guilty to all charges brought against him and expressed that he "will reflect on his actions". He was released from prison on February 9, 2023.
Early life and education
Seungri was born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea.After passing his college entrance exams, Seungri was accepted by Chung-Ang University and began his college education in the spring of 2010, along with Yuri and Sooyoung of Girls' Generation. He dropped out of Chung-Ang University in 2012 after being placed on academic probation several times due to his demanding schedule with BigBang, opting instead to enroll at Gukje Digital University so he could take online classes and attend his schedules at the same time.
Career
Early beginnings and debut with Big Bang
Seungri was noted for his dancing skills growing up, with the singer participating in the dance group II Hwa. Hoping to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, Seungri appeared in survival program Let's Coke Play! Battle Shinhwa, a reality television series to find the next Shinhwa. He was eventually eliminated in the ninth episode. Following his appearance on the show, Seungri was scouted by YG Entertainment to audition for the new boy band, Big Bang, alongside five other members: The formation of the group was documented on television. Despite the initial plan of debuting six members, Seungri and Hyun-seung risked elimination due to their lack of stage presence and were given one final opportunity to impress Yang Hyun-suk, founder of YG Entertainment. Ultimately Seungri was chosen to stay, while Hyung-seung was dropped before the official debut.Following the release of several single albums, BigBang's first album Big Bang Vol.1 – Since 2007 was a moderate success. Seungri also recorded his first solo song "The Next Day" for the album. The group's breakthrough came with the release of their first extended play, Always, which included the number one song "Lies". The song went on to top major Korean music charts for a record-breaking seven consecutive weeks,BigBang |Song of the Year award at the 9th Mnet Korean Music Festival.Big Bang |4 Their following EPs followed its predecessor's footsteps: Hot Issue yielded "Last Farewell" while Stand Up spawned "Day by Day" ; both singles were chart-toppers. Seungri continued to hone his dancing skills by competing against bandmate Taeyang in several dance competitions, as well as against Super Junior's [Eunhyuk, TVXQ's Yunho and Shinee's Taemin. He also choreographed a large portion of BigBang's dances.
2008–2011: Solo career development, acting, and ''VVIP''
In 2008, members of BigBang began branching out to develop their solo careers. Seungri became the first member of BigBang to act in a musical with Sonagi in 2008. He also ventured into hosting, becoming a host for MBC's music program Show! Music Core alongside Daesung. After filming wrapped up, Seungri went back into the studio with BigBang to record for their second Korean studio album, Remember. The album was promoted with two singles: "Sunset Glow" and "Strong Baby", a solo release by Seungri. In order to shed the "youngest member" image from BigBang, he promoted the single with a more mature look complete with a stylized dance. He won his first triple crown for "Strong Baby" on SBS's live music show Inkigayo.When promotional activities for Remember ended, Seungri returned to acting and starred in his first film Why Did You Come to My House?, playing the love interest of Kang Hye-jung. He then starred in his second musical Shouting, alongside bandmate Daesung, who was unable to perform at the last minute due to a car accident. The same year, he also starred in the film 19-Nineteen alongside fellow member T.O.P.
Seungri's first extended play, V.V.I.P, was released on January 20, 2011, with two singles: "VVIP" and "What Can I Do". To establish an identity away from BigBang through his music, Seungri involved himself in the production of the album, composing and writing six out of the seven songs. "VVIP" and "What Can I Do" won a triple crown on Mnet's M! Countdown. Seungri also won the SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Award. Promotional activities were cut short in order for Seungri to focus on BigBang's comeback. The same year, he was cast in the MBC drama Lights and Shadows, playing an aspiring singer from the country.
2012–2014: Japanese promotions, scandal controversy, and ''Let's Talk About Love''
In 2012, Seungri started his first Japanese promotions by appearing on variety shows, such as hosting a Japanese radio program entitled Big Bang's All Night Nippon. He was also chosen as the special MC on Fuji TV's Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke Eight, where he interviewed celebrities. He appeared in his first Japanese show Seungchan's Complete Victory Declaration on Space Shower TV. Seungri later appeared in the Nihon TV special drama Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Japanese broadcasting company, NTV. The drama was based on the manga Kindaichi Case Files Neo SP 1: Hong Kong Kowloon Treasure Murder Case, and premiered in January 2013. It later won the Best Drama SP at the Tokyo Drama Awards. He also became a regular cast of Music On! TV's program Count Down E.T, hosting the Men's Bar Food section.Seungri's career took a setback when he became embroiled in a sex scandal with a Japanese woman. As a result, he stepped out of BigBang's promotional activities for self-reflection. He would revisit the scandal one year later on SBS talk show Incarnation, discussing how it helped him grow up and how fans began to view him more as an adult.
Recording for Seungri's second Korean EP Let's Talk About Love took over two years, and the artist also involved himself with the production of the album. The EP was released in August 2013, debuting at number one on the Gaon Chart and went on to sell over 70,000 copies. He promoted the singles "Gotta Talk to You" and the eponymous title track. In October of the same year, he released his first Japanese album, selling over 14,000 copies in its first day and topping the Oricon Charts. The album contained songs from his previous albums, as well as the new song "The Feelings Painted in the Sky" 2=空に描く思い, which was later used as the theme song for Seungri's first Japanese television drama Yubikoi ～Kimini Okuru Message～.
In September, Seungri joined Popular Women 100 as a co-host alongside comedian Hiroshi Yamazaki, becoming the first international celebrity to clinch a hosting spot on a regular cable show in Japan.
From 2013 to 2014, Seungri starred in the Japanese drama Yubikoi ~Kimini Okuru Message~ - A Message Send To You. He then took a supporting role in the Korean medical drama Angel Eyes alongside labelmate Ku Hye-sun, playing the role of a Korean-American teen with the dream of becoming an emergency rescue worker.
2015–2019: Focus on acting, ''The Great Seungri'', tour and other activities
Though he toured extensively from 2015 to 2016 with his band to promote their third Korean album Made, Seungri also appeared as a professional judge on the Chinese TV program Girls Fighting in 2016, where he mentored trainees. He also produced the song "36 Tricks of Love" for the show, a remake of the Taiwanese singer Jolin Tsai's song under the same title. The song took the number one spot on the QQ Music and Weibo charts in China. He later starred in the Japanese movie, High & Low: The Movie, playing the son of a Korean mob boss. The film was commercially successful and placed second at the Japanese box office on its opening, grossing. He also recorded the song "We Run Dis" with PKCZ for the soundtrack. In August 2016, he started filming for his first Chinese film Bonjour L'amour. The movie was released on March 2, 2018.In May 2018, Seungri announced his first solo tour The Great Seungri, twelve years after his debut, with shows announced in South Korea and Japan to support his first studio album. On July 20, 2018, Seungri released his first Korean studio album The Great Seungri, with "1, 2, 3!" and "Where R U From" as its lead singles. Seungri was highly involved in the production of the album, co-composing and writing for all tracks. The album debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Chart. Meanwhile, Seungri was featured on the single "Combo" by TPA, with Al Rocco and Ivy. Seungri was featured on the single "Ignite" by K-391, he was featured along with Alan Walker and Julie Bergan. The song topped the Norwegian chart for two weeks.
Seungri also starred in YG and Netflix's sitcom-variety show, YG Future Strategy Office, playing a fictionalised version of himself appointed as senior adviser to the fictional division of YG Entertainment. The show premiered in October 2018. In November of that same year, he joined the variety show We Will Channel You as a regular cast member.