On February 9, 2023, Lee Seung-hyun, famously known as former BIGBANG member Seungri, has been officially released from prison. This was confirmed by an official from the Ministry of Justice, stating that the former BIGBANG member had been allowed to leave Yeoju Correctional Institution.
Earlier media reports said that he was set to be released from prison on February 11, 2023, however officials confirmed that Seungri was indeed to be released on February 9th.
On August 12, 2021, the South Korean High Military Court had found Seungri guilty of all the charges laid against him from the Burning Sun issue and sentenced the former BIGBANG member to 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of 1.5 billion won (US$ 970,000). His sentence was reduced to 18 months after he had admitted his guilt on January 27, 2022.
VIPs have been celebrating the news on social media, trending the hashtags #SeungrisRealStory and #SeungriWeWaited.
There are people who have followed the case from start to now & have understood the great injustice that has been done to your son. We don't just blindly follow. We payed attention.
I STAND WITH SEUNGRI#SeungrisRealStory #SeungriWeWaited @ForvictoRi pic.twitter.com/cNo6H4nqPJ— 🍀T.T.🍀 BIGB5NG💛 V5P🍀 (@malibu1939) February 9, 2023
Seungri has 0 victims. NO person of any gender has filled a criminal complaint against him. NONE of his charges are about SA or molka. Media mixed 3 different cases and made him the face of everything for clicks. The real criminals are walking free.#SeungrisRealStory pic.twitter.com/bYsQ4GwIQP
— K.💗 BIGBANG is 5 (@kathryn_en) February 9, 2023
Thread about Seungri's 2019-2023.
I STAND WITH SEUNGRI #SeungriWeWaited#SeungrisRealStory pic.twitter.com/pxh2z60oVJ
— 𝓥𝓮𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓽 ♡ (@Velvetsworld) February 9, 2023
I am so so so glad Ri pulled a TOP on em. Not a photo not a word not a moment whatsoever; but more importantly…I am happy that he is home 🥲
Now let's proceed with his justice ⚖️
I STAND WITH SEUNGRI#SeungrisRealStory #SeungriWeWaited @ForvictoRi pic.twitter.com/sJObdYFeO4— 🍀T.T.🍀 BIGB5NG💛 V5P🍀 (@malibu1939) February 9, 2023
Warm reaction from japanese fans 🤗
Welcome home Lee Seungri 🙏 pic.twitter.com/9OxrsLZQH4
— cho – welcome home🍀 (@ChoLovesGD2) February 9, 2023
He's been released almost 12 hours ago, at 5am, unnoticed.
Thank you, God 😭🙏
I STAND WITH SEUNGRI#SeungriWeWaited #SeungrisRealStory @ForvictoRi
— ³⁵Here for 🐼 (@ForVictoRi_VVIP) February 9, 2023
SOMEBODY TELL HIM I WAITED FOR HIM
IM BAWLINGI STAND WITH SEUNGRI #SeungriWeWaited#SeungrisRealStory pic.twitter.com/oygXH7Tnev
— BIGBANG Africa🍀 (@BIGBANGAfrica1) February 9, 2023
Welcome back Lee Seunghyun..rest well in the arms of your family..don’t be sad we’re still here..always love you 💙
I STAND WITH SEUNGRI #seungrisrealstory #SeungriWeWaited pic.twitter.com/8hzJg9o4qe
— 🍀Lyna🍀LSH (@lynariri91) February 9, 2023
Also,the "reporter" who "reported" Seungri's case knew who the actual perpetrators were but kept their names under wraps because it wasn't "big news". She knew Jung Joon Young and his friends were video taping girls for two years. She lied on Seungri for her career. And knew it. https://t.co/lDHShSBvLE
— PunkPrincess (@SuperUkissBang) February 6, 2023
Seungri has been cleared from MOLKA chat cases; Singer Lee in those chats was Lee Jonghyun from CNBLUE & for your kind information,reporter Kang knew who the actual perpetrators were but kept their names under wraps for 2 years because it wasn't big news on that time https://t.co/IsPVGFP7JL pic.twitter.com/9dW1CgPfq1
— ✨ (@seyonaras) February 8, 2023
Other K-pop fans, however, weren’t as happy with the former member of one of YG’s most popular groups being released.
and yet his stans still say he was innocent 😭 but also LOCK HIM BACK UP!!
— alex⁷ 💜 is seeing taylor (@btscrows) February 6, 2023
the fact that people get a longer sentence for smoking weed over there… yikes
— T⁷ (@yoonterlude93) February 6, 2023
with seungri being released this week, if i see anyone on my tl defending that man or celebrating his return i will block and report you bc wtf
— larissa ◡̈ | roar (@nyukyutie) February 7, 2023
i hope he never shows his face in public again. don't dare come back to give empty apologies and false promises of repentance
— slow🐝⁷ (@crabjunie) February 9, 2023
Victims didn’t get full justice. He should have been locked forever.
— iammaizeeey2⁷ (@iammaizeeey2) February 9, 2023
9 charges and less than 2 years served? The justice system is a joke
— Cyrielle⁷ Military Wife (@Afro_Hope) February 9, 2023
this guy and yg needs to go back to jail and stay away from business 🤬
— soy (@soyamoyas) February 9, 2023
i just saw a post that said "seungri gets released from prison this week" and the top comment was "PUT HIM BACK" 😭😭😭
— eggtart♡sabujakz (@e_gg_tart) February 8, 2023
Seungri’s “quiet” departure from Yeoju Correctional Institution was said to avoid the media from hounding the former idol with questions regarding the already concluded issue.
Other POP! stories that you might like:
Former AOA member Shin Ji-min to make her solo comeback this February
Agencies of NCT’s Mark and OH MY GIRL’s Arin deny dating rumors
BTS Jungkook’s reason for his ‘social media hiatus’ is deeply relatable
All LOONA members move to officially terminate contracts with their agency
Twice snags ‘Breakthrough Artist’ award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Festival
Japan introduces ‘gender-neutral’ school uniforms as support for gender minorities
Follow POP! on Instagram.