Shin Ki Hyun responded to some questions surrounding his friendship with Seungri.

On April 4, the actor held an Instagram live broadcast where he denied rumors of his involvement in a chatroom where illegally filmed footage of women was shared amongst celebrities.

SBS’s “8 O’Clock News” previously reported that, similarly to Jung Joon Young’s chatroom, there was another KakaoTalk chatroom in which illegally-filmed videos of women were shared. Members of the chat included a film actor, a model, the son of family-owned conglomerate, and an MD (merchandiser also known as promoter) of Club Arena. The news program named movie stars named “Shin,” “Han,” and a model named “Jung.”

After the report, people suspected Shin Ki Hyun to be the movie actor named “Shin” after netizens found a group photo of him with Seungri, Jung Joon Young, Choi Jong Hoon, and Roy Kim at a coal briquette volunteer event.

During the broadcast, he said, “I went because I thought it would be nice to do coal briquette volunteering. I didn’t even want to take a photo with them. They’re all popular celebrities. I felt as if I was a nobody. But Seungri asked to take the photo together, so I did. It was my first time seeing Jung Joon Young and Roy Kim. I only said hello to Choi Jong Hoon a couple of times while promoting as Battle.”

About still following Seungri on Instagram, Shin Ki Hyun explained, “People ask why I’m not unfollowing him, but can all of you cut off a close friend when he commits a crime? He’s one of my friends who guided me. I don’t think there’s an answer. It’s right for him to receive punishment if he committed a crime.”

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Seungri has been questioned by the police for an additional suspicion.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s provincial special detective division summoned Seungri for questioning on the morning of April 4.

The police stated that after messages from a group chat were revealed on February 26, Seungri told the members of the chatroom to get new phones.

Destruction of evidence was first suspected last month when the police collected the cell phones of the chatroom members and most of them, including Seungri, Choi Jong Hoon, and Jung Joon Young, submitted new phones. There was only one chatroom member who did not submit a new phone.

When Choi Jong Hoon was asked why he suddenly changed his phone, he responded, “Seungri told me to change my cell phone.” Jung Joon Young and other individuals also shared the same reason.

From what was gathered by the police from the questioning of the chatroom members, Seungri contacted them and said, “I don’t remember at all what I said in 2015. Do you still have old cell phones or records?” When they all responded that they do not have the KakaoTalk records as they are from over three years ago, Seungri commented, “A mandatory investigation could happen, so change the cell phone you are currently using.”

According to legal expert Joo Young Geul, it may be difficult for Seungri to receive punishment for the destruction of evidence if it is found that the chatroom members got rid of their phones to protect themselves rather than to cover up Seungri’s charges.

If booked however, Seungri will have been booked for a total of five charges including prostitution mediation, violation of food sanitation law, spreading illegal footage, and embezzlement.

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Top photo credit: Xportsnews