In a statement made on the morning of June 12th through his personal social media, Yong Jun-hyung expressed remorse over past actions, stating “I was definitely so stupid and wrong at that time”.
While delving into the rationale behind his departure from HIGHLIGHT, he admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the situation, saying, “While being surrounded by criticism, I couldn’t correct the wrong situation and did not know what the right choice was…I was scared and didn’t want to cause damage to the company and the members with my issue…I decided to leave…knowing that I would lose everything…”.
Yong Jun-hyung also addressed his connection to the Burning Sun Scandal, admitting to having received a video from Jung Joon-young through private messaging, yet asserting his negligence in understanding its context or implications at the time. Post-viewing, he acknowledges his failure in not condemning the actions, commenting, “I could have said, ‘Stop this. This is very wrong’, but I failed…”
He firmly reiterated his lack of deeper involvement, saying, “But I never entered any group chat or got involved in the incident…”
He also confessed to feeling misrepresented in media narratives, highlighting the pain of being wrongfully accused of involvement in illegal activities. “Many people and the media have been saying that I was one of the perpetrators…I didn’t have the courage to bring up past issues and talk about it again…”
In closing, Yong Jun-hyung expressed a desire to withstand the ongoing difficulties and hoped his loved ones, including his supporters, would remain unscathed. He pledged to reflect upon and rectify past indiscretions and mature with each passing day.
In the wake of the 2019 scandal, it surfaced that Jung Joon-young had sent Yong Jun-hyung illegally recorded videos in 2015. Facing these revelations, Yong Jun-hyung had initially refuted participation in the incident but chose to exit HIGHLIGHT none the less.
Reflecting on his past conversations during the investigation, he conveyed his shame and announced his withdrawal from the band on March 14th, 2019, to prevent further harm to fans and band members.
FAQs about Yong Jun-hyung and the Burning Sun Scandal
- Who is Yong Jun-hyung?
- Yong Jun-hyung is a South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper, and former member of the boy band HIGHLIGHT.
- What is the Burning Sun Scandal?
- The Burning Sun Scandal was a high-profile scandal involving allegations of sex crimes, drug trafficking, and police corruption linked to the Burning Sun nightclub in Seoul.
- What was Yong Jun-hyung’s involvement in the scandal?
- Yong Jun-hyung was implicated for having watched an illicit video sent to him by Jung Joon-young but has denied any further participation, such as being a part of any related group chat.
- Why did Yong Jun-hyung leave HIGHLIGHT?
- He decided to leave HIGHLIGHT to avoid causing further damage to the group and its members due to the controversy surrounding his alleged connection to the scandal.
- Has Yong Jun-hyung admitted to any wrongdoing?
- While Yong Jun-hyung has admitted to watching a video sent by Jung Joon-young and not reacting appropriately, he has denied active participation in illegal activities or group chats related to the scandal.