Jung Joon-young Spotted in France After Release, Stirs Controversy by Posing as "Artist" and "Businessman"

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Jung Joon-young, the singer who served time for sexual crimes and was recently released, is causing controversy for posing as an "artist" and "businessman" while approaching women abroad.

On the 10th, JTBC News reported a video filmed by a whistleblower at a club in Lyon, France.

The video shows Jung Joon-young in close physical contact with a woman. The whistleblower, who interacted with Jung’s group because they were learning Korean, recognized him after being introduced as a "famous singer from Korea," realizing it was Jung Joon-young from the Burning Sun scandal.

According to the whistleblower, Jung Joon-young introduced himself as "Jun from Boston," claiming, "I am a lyricist and composer. I will soon open a Korean restaurant in Lyon."

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However, after this was reported, Jung Joon-young messaged the whistleblower, expressing disappointment that his request for friendship was negatively portrayed, and subsequently shut down his social media accounts.

The whistleblower stated, "Jung Joon-young hasn't changed. Five years in prison can't change a person," adding that they disliked the fact that Jung still seems intent on staying in the music industry.
This implies that Jung Joon-young's behavior suggests he has not reflected on his past mistakes and is trying to maintain his former lifestyle.

Jung Joon-young was arrested and charged in March 2019 for multiple counts of gang rape and illegal filming and distribution of explicit material. Known as the "Jung Joon-young group chat scandal," this case was part of the larger Burning Sun scandal.

Jung was sentenced to five years in prison by the Supreme Court and was released on March 20 after serving his sentence.

Since his release, it has become known that Jung is preparing to emigrate, as resuming his entertainment career in Korea is deemed difficult. France, where he was spotted, was a location where he had previously planned to open a restaurant in 2018, a plan that was thwarted due to his involvement in the scandal.

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This incident reignites the debate on the reintegration of sexual offenders into society.

‍Experts emphasize that without genuine repentance and reform, social reintegration is challenging, and stress the need for offenders to take responsible attitudes towards their victims and society.

Meanwhile, this incident highlights that the Burning Sun scandal involving K-pop stars remains a significant issue both domestically and internationally. The fact that Jung Joon-young's past is recognized abroad underscores the importance of responsible behavior in the globally influential K-pop industry.

Public sentiment remains cold towards entertainers involved in social controversies attempting to continue their careers overseas. This case is expected to spur further social discussion on the reintegration of sexual offenders and their re-entry into the entertainment industry.

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