Seungri

Who Is Seungri?

Seungri, born Lee Seung-hyun on December 12, 1990, in Gwangju, South Korea, was the youngest member of BIGBANG, one of the most successful and influential K-pop groups in history. Known for his energetic dancing, sharp choreography instincts, and outgoing personality, he spent over a decade as one of the group’s core performers before his career ended in scandal in 2019.

Early Life and Joining BIGBANG

Seungri moved from Gwangju to Seoul at age 16 to chase a career in entertainment, catching YG Entertainment’s attention after appearing on the survival show Let’s Coke Play! Battle Shinhwa. He was almost cut from BIGBANG’s original lineup but fought for a second chance and ultimately won the group’s final spot, debuting with the group on August 19, 2006, as its lead dancer, vocalist, and maknae (youngest member).

Solo Music Career

Seungri built a solo career alongside his group work, releasing the EPs V.V.I.P (2011) and Let’s Talk About Love (2013), both of which topped Korean album charts. In 2018, he released his first full studio album, The Great Seungri, taking a much larger role as producer and songwriter than in his earlier work. He also had a successful presence in Japan, where his music and television appearances made him a recognizable star.

Acting and Business Ventures

Outside of music, Seungri appeared in dramas and films including Angel Eyes and Why Did You Come to My House?, and he hosted the Netflix docuseries YG Future Strategy Office. He was also known as a savvy entrepreneur, involved in restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment businesses in and beyond South Korea.

The Burning Sun Scandal and Aftermath

In 2019, Seungri became the central figure in the Burning Sun scandal, involving his nightclub business and a wider set of allegations across the Korean entertainment industry. He announced his retirement from entertainment on March 11, 2019. He was later indicted on charges including habitual gambling, arranging prostitution, and violating foreign exchange law; investigations found no direct connection between him and some of the more serious allegations initially reported in the case. In 2021 he was sentenced to prison, a term later reduced on appeal to 18 months, and he completed his sentence and was released in February 2023. Since then, he has kept a low public profile.

Quick Facts Table

Seungri’s story is one of the most closely watched in K-pop history — both for the energy he brought to BIGBANG’s stages for over a decade, and for the scandal that abruptly ended his career.