K-pop takes a hit after Big Bang singer named in sex probe

The popularity of K-pop is taking a dive — at least in the stock market — after South Korean police confirmed a member of the Big Bang boy band was being investigated as part of a probe into prostitution at Seoul nightclubs.

Initial media reports surfaced last week and have divided the band’s young fan base on social media. Stocks of talent agencies took a plunge Monday after Yonhap News named Seungri, nicknamed “Korea’s Great Gatsby” for his opulent lifestyle, as a suspect in the probe involving prostitutes at clubs in the Gangnam area in Seoul. Prostitution is illegal in South Korea.

A police officer at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Monday confirmed the Yonhap News report. Representatives of YG Entertainment Inc., which manages Big Bang, weren’t immediately available for comment.

YG Entertainment slid as much as 14%. SM Entertainment Co., known for boy bands including EXO, fell as much as 11%, while JYP Entertainment Corp., the manager of popular girl group TWICE, dropped as much as 4.5%.

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“I guess I need to wait until the issue of Seungri is resolved,” said Yoon Joonwon, a fund manager at HDC Asset Management, who holds “a few shares” in K-pop stocks.

Big Bang, a boy band formed in 2006 by YG Entertainment, is on hiatus. Seungri is starting his two-year mandatory military service on March 25, according to Yonhap.

On social media, some fans remained loyal to the singer and the band. Under #SeungriDeservesBetter, user ayobigbang wrote: “We call on the real fans’ voice, do not fall into the shameless trap, we support Seungri!”

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