Another sex scandal slams K-pop scene

Lee Ju-no

The local entertainment industry, which has been hit hard recently by a series of sex scandals involving top actors and comedians, has again been slapped with a new alleged sex crime case.

This one implicates a former member of legendary boy band Seo Taiji and Boys.

Lee Ju-no, 49, a former member of the group, has been questioned for allegedly sexually assaulting two women at a club, Yongsan Police said Monday.

The victims allege that Lee hugged the women from behind and groped their breasts forcefully at a club in Itaewon, downtown Seoul, Saturday. Lee also allegedly slapped the club's owner in the face as the staff dragged him out of the club.

Police said they will summon Lee for questioning soon.

This is the second time for Lee to be accused of sexual harassment. The singer-dancer was investigated for sexual harassment charges in 2002. He invited a woman in her 20s to his recording studio and allegedly harassed her. At that time, the police suspended Lee's indictment after the woman agreed to drop the charges.

The local entertainment business is still in shock as the case follows other sex scandals earlier this month involving celebrities including singer Park Yu-chun, 30, scheduled to be summoned this week for questioning in four separate accusations of rape; and comedian Yoo Sang-moo, 36, who has been questioned over accusations of attempted rape.

Lee Soo-jung, a criminal psychology professor at Kyonggi University, singles out a relatively high tolerance for sex crimes in the local entertainment business as the main culprit.

"In part, the local entertainment industry has been turning a blind eye to selling sex and the tacit practice of trading sex, which led to a high tolerance of sex crimes," she said.
 "The industry needs self-reflection and efforts to root out the wrong practices."
Source: Korea Times