Jung walks into the lobby of Incheon International Airport on March 12 after he returned home from the United States to face a police investigation. [Yonhap Photo]
"With regard to stories being mentioned about me, I admit all my sins," the 30-year-old said in a statement, admitting that he had filmed women without their consent and distributed sex video files. "I did all these things without much guilt."
The statement came as Jung returned home Tuesday night from a business trip to the United States to face an interrogation by police. Police would question Jung and BIGBANG member Seungri on Thursday.
Jung said he would step down from all TV programs and stop all activities. "It will not be a voluntary suspension of public activities. I will put everything down as a public figure and I will reflect on my unethical and unlawful acts of crime for the rest of my life."
"I kneel before everyone to apologize to the women who were shown in my video and those who might have felt anger at such a disappointing, shocking and appalling situation," he said.
Jung would be the first entertainer to be investigated in a probe into a sex scandal involving Seungri, who is suspected of arranging sexual services for foreign investors in 2015. A broadcaster has released an edited version of Seungri's smartphone messenger chat log that showed Jung sharing a sex video file. The broadcaster reported that Jung had shared sex videos at other chat rooms.
Jung is suspected of sharing sex video files with other entertainers, but their names were not disclosed. Illegal distribution and filming of unauthorized sex videos provide for a maximum jail term of five years or a fine of 30 million won ($26,539).
Jung once suspended his public activity for months in 2016 when an ex-girlfriend accused him of filming her secretly during their sexual activities. The ex-girlfriend dropped her suit after police failed to find any clear evidence that she was recorded without prior consent.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
