The new BBC documentary Burning Sun investigates a significant sex scandal in South Korea involving K-pop stars and celebrities, notably Jung Joon-young. Journalists Park Hyo-Sil and Kang Kyung-Yoon were central figures in uncovering the scandal, sharing their narratives and the challenges they faced. Hyo-Sil initially reported accusations against Joon-young for secretly recording sex footage of his girlfriend, facing backlash when the girlfriend recanted her allegations.
Kang Kyung-Yoon later continued Hyo-Sil's investigation, discovering damning evidence implicating Joon-young and uncovering a group chat containing explicit videos and discussions of gang rape. This led to the arrest of Joon-young and other male K-pop stars, as well as revelations about a senior police contact protecting the abusers. In the documentary, both journalists discuss the abuse and consequences they endured for their reporting.
Hyo-Sil recounts facing online harassment, threats, and even miscarriages due to the stress inflicted upon her. Kyung-Yoon, who was pregnant at the time, also faced abuse, including derogatory remarks targeting her and her unborn child. Despite the challenges, they remained determined in their pursuit of justice.
The leaked information from Joon-young's phone, including messages detailing sexual misconduct, fueled Kyung-Yoon's investigation, leading to convictions for all involved men. However, the harassment continued for the journalists long after the expose. Nevertheless, they believe their efforts have made a lasting impact, hoping to prevent similar scandals in the future.
The documentary serves as a sobering reminder of power dynamics and injustices prevalent in the entertainment industry, highlighting the courage and perseverance of those who confront them. You can watch the full documentary below.