BBC Releases Damning "Burning Sun" Documentary With Never-Before-Seen Footage

The BBC World Service’s investigative team, BBC Eye, has released a powerful new documentary titled Burning Sun, unveiling the harrowing journey of two female Korean journalists who exposed sex scandals involving prominent K-Pop stars.

Burning Sun_ Exposing the secret K-pop chat groups - BBC World Service Documentaries 0-16 screenshot — “In South Korea, K-Pop stars have fame, fortune, and millions of female fans. But some led a double life.” | *BBC*

The hour-long documentary tells the story through two Seoul-based reporters — Park Hyo Sil and Kang Kyung Yoon — whose investigative journalism unearthed disturbing truths at great personal cost.

Burning Sun_ Exposing the secret K-pop chat groups - BBC World Service Documentaries 0-45 screenshot — | *BBC*

Burning Sun_ Exposing the secret K-pop chat groups - BBC World Service Documentaries 0-48 screenshot — | *BBC*

Burning Sun_ Exposing the secret K-pop chat groups - BBC World Service Documentaries 0-51 screenshot — | *BBC*

The documentary starts the story in 2016 when Park Hyo Sil covered accusations against Jung Joon Young by his girlfriend — who claimed he had secretly filmed their intimate moments. When the accusations were retracted, the public and media vilified Park, resulting in her facing severe online abuse and personal trauma, including two miscarriages.

Burning Sun_ Exposing the secret K-pop chat groups - BBC World Service Documentaries 1-10 screenshot — | *BBC*

BBC then covers the resurfaced scandal in 2019 when new evidence, leaked from Jung’s phone, reached Kang Kyung Yoon, an SBS reporter. The phone data revealed explicit videos and messages involving Jung and other K-Pop stars, including Choi Jong Hoon. The messages detailed sexual assaults and hinted at protection from a senior police contact.

Burning Sun_ Exposing the secret K-pop chat groups - BBC World Service Documentaries 1-8 screenshot — Messages between the two. | *BBC*

According to the broadcasting giant, Burning Sun illustrates how these celebrities’ seemingly “untouchable status” began to crumble due to Kang’s relentless pursuit of the truth. Her revelations prompted other victims to come forward, leading to significant legal actions against the former superstars. Despite achieving justice, Kang also faced intense trolling, similar to Park.

Burning Sun_ Exposing the secret K-pop chat groups - BBC World Service Documentaries 2-6 screenshot — | *BBC*

Burning Sun is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and internationally on the BBC World Service YouTube channel, with a Korean version on the BBC News Korean YouTube channel. In June 2024, it will be aired as a series on the BBC News TV channel.

Screenshot 2024-05-19 125804 — Footage from the documentary. | *BBC via TheQoo*

For more details, visit the BBC News website or listen to the six-part podcast Intrigue: Burning Sun on BBC Sounds and other podcast platforms. The documentary is produced by Kai Lawrence and executive produced by Monica Garnsey, Mustafa Khalili, and Kavita Puri, with Marc Perkins as the editor.