A photo posted by Seungri on his Instagram in November 2014. It is now deleted. [Seungri's Instagram]

Report by Kwon Yu-jin for Joongang Daily
2019-04-11 10:40 AM

The police have made a not guilty decision on Seungri’s police uniform allegation. Seungri posted a photo of himself wearing a police uniform on social media in November 2014, which sparked controversy over his alleged collusion with police after the Burning Sun scandal broke out.

After the controversy arose over Seungri’s photo wearing a police uniform, the metropolitan investigation team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency investigated into the allegations of collusion between Yoon, referred to as the “police chief” in one of the Kakao Talk chat rooms, and possible violation of the Law on the Regulation of Police Clothing and Police Equipment. Seungri claims the police uniform has nothing to do with Yoon and that he “borrowed it from a clothing rental company”.

The police then investigated the rental company’s order statements and officials of the company that claimed that Seungri had in fact borrowed the clothes, hence accepting Seungri’s claim. It is also confirmed that the date of the photo’s posting on SNS is included in the uniform’s rental period. The police also found that none of the names on the uniform worn by Seungri were among former or incumbent police officers.

Police concludes that Seungri is not guilty of violating the Law on the Regulation of Police Clothing and Police Equipment. According to this law, if a person who is not a police officer wears a police uniform without permission, he or she can face up to six months in prison. However, the law took effect in December 2015 and does not apply when Seungri posted on SNS. A police official said, “It does not appear to be subject to minor criminal punishment (false impersonation) either.”

On the controversy over police uniforms, Seungri has claimed that he borrowed clothes for a 2014 Halloween party and took photos. On his relationship with Yoon, Seungri also said, “I didn’t even know him in 2014”. “It was in 2017 that we first met and had lunch several times,” Yoon told police.

Notes:

(1) 'Law on the Regulation of Police Clothing and Police Equipment' - if a person who is not a police officer wears a police uniform without permission (including insignia/badge), he or she can face up to six months in prison. This law took effect in December 2015.

(2) 'Minor Offenses Act' Article 118 (False Impersonation of Public Official) - a person who exercises official authority by false impersonation of a public official shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three years or by a fine of not more than seven million won.