Female journalist who uncovered the Burning Sun case faced online harassment from fans of Seungri, ultimately suffering a miscarriage
In their pursuit to uncover the Burning Sun scandal, journalists paid a hefty price.
Recently, BBC shook the public with a documentary lasting over an hour, laying bare all the dark corners of the Burning Sun case. The case caused the downfall of many top K-pop stars, including Seungri – a former member of BIGBANG. Through investigative documents, images, and edited messages, the public got a glimpse of the scandal’s severity.
Those once idolized showed disrespect towards women and engaged in unforgivable behaviors. What was only partially revealed five years ago is now out in the open, sparking public outrage.
To shine a light on the Burning Sun scandal, two female journalists from Korea risked it all, monitoring the case and related parties for years. This wasn’t easy. Refusing to compromise with evil, those who stood up to expose the truth paid a high price themselves. The bitter truth only fueled public anger further.
In the documentary exposing Burning Sun, journalist Park Hyo Sil shared her heartbreaking story. This segment, titled “The cost of reporting,” recounted Park’s investigation into the “Burning Sun chatroom” case, led by Jung Joon Young, along with Seungri, Choi Yong Hoon (former FT Island member), and others sharing information related to sexual assaults.
When the case first came to light, Park Hyo Sil faced online violence from fans of the idols. At that time, she was pregnant. Her daily life revolved around work pressure, witnessing the victims’ anguish, and trying to maintain balance.
Above all, the journalist endured malicious comments from fans of those idols with emails, threatening messages, and countless negative attacks that could have had dire consequences. The pressure led to her miscarriage.
Kang Kyung Yoon, the other journalist, also shared experiences of online harassment and violence while investigating the case. Speaking of past pain, journalist Park Hyo Sil remained composed but struck a chord with viewers. Overcoming hurdles, the two journalists persisted because they believed truth must prevail.
Source: K14
