Following The ‘Burning Sun Scandal’ Documentary, Zico Suffers Backlash

Zico faced reaction after the BBC documentary “Burning Sun: The Women Who Exposed the K-Pop Stars’ Secret Chatrooms” was released on the 19th. The documentary discusses the ‘Burning Sun controversy,’ including former BIGBANG member Seungri and FT Island singers Jung Joon Young and Choi Jong-hoon, who were accused of sexual assault and unlawful video dissemination. Zico’s social media posts were flooded with scandal references after the documentary’s release. Included comments, “Your friend’s golden phone was on BBC News,” “Explain the golden phone,” “What did Jung Joon-young’s golden phone show? Share with us,” I saw the BBC Burning Sun documentary,” and “What was on the golden phone you read so well?” Zico said on MBC’s ‘Radio Star’ in January 2016, three years before the Burning Sun affair, that Jung Joon-young owns a “golden phone.” This phone was solely used for emergencies and KakaoTalk, like a “Pokémon directory” with many contacts. Zico questioned Jung Joon Young, “You don’t have that anymore, right?” during the show. Jung Joon-young affirmed, “I still have it. Zico visits my house and asks, ‘Where’s the golden phone?’ He reads it on the bed like his own.” Zico searches phone contacts alphabetically, Jung Joon-young said. Zico didn’t explain why he called it the “golden phone,” but the show portrayed it as Jung Joon-young’s contact list. Zico’s statements reappeared after Jung Joon-young was convicted of illegally shooting and disseminating footage. Zico stated, “The story about the phone I mentioned on the show has nothing to do with this unfortunate incident.” He continued, “All I saw on that phone was a list of contacts, and I haven’t spoken to Jung Joon-young in a while. Please avoid snap judgments. I will strongly punish hostile comments and misinformation.” Zico was not involved in the Burning Sun controversy or Jung Joon Young’s unlawful filming and dissemination. Zico appeared at Yonsei University’s event after the controversy emerged. Many online and social media remarks expressed concern, including “Inviting Zico is an embarrassment for the school,” and “Did it have to be Zico?” Students posted posters on campus denouncing the decision. Inha University Consumer Studies professor Lee Eun-hee said, “Inviting singers to university festivals indirectly uses students’ money through tuition fees and student union dues. Consumers should voice concerns about thoughtlessly inviting socially controversial figures.