The Chinese-owned Cambodian company Prince Group (Prince Holdings) has been identified as a backer of crime in Cambodia and is facing international sanctions. In this context, signs of 'covering up traces' have been detected. In particular, it has been confirmed that the club known to have been visited by Seungri from Big Bang has also closed its doors.
According to CBS No Cut News on the 21st, the club and pub 'Prince Brewing', which was reportedly operated by Prince Group, has gone out of business. A new president is currently preparing for a reopening after taking over.
This club is where a video was filmed last year of Seungri saying, “When I told my acquaintances that I was going to Cambodia, they asked if it was dangerous, and why I would go to a country that doesn’t live well,” and “I will tell them to eat X and shut up and come here to see what kind of country Cambodia is. The most wonderful country in Asia, Cambodia.”
The relationship between Seungri, Prince Brewing, and Prince Holdings has not been confirmed. Locally, it is reported that Prince Brewing is often operated as a simple brewery and pub brand.
The Prince Group, led by Chairman Chen (38), is a large corporation that operates various businesses including real estate, finance, and food and beverage, exerting significant influence on the Cambodian economy. Recently, it has been identified as a backing organization for various serious crimes such as human trafficking, online fraud, and illegal confinement in the international community. The governments of the United States and the United Kingdom have initiated joint sanctions against the Prince Group and Chairman Chen.
Meanwhile, Seungri, who debuted with the group Big Bang and received great love, was identified as a central figure in the 'Burning Sun Gate' in 2018 and left the team.
Afterward, Seungri was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for a total of 9 charges including violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Traffic, prostitution, sexual violence crimes, habitual gambling, violation of the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act, violation of the Food Sanitation Act, embezzlement in the course of duty, and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement), and instigation of special assault, and was released after completing his sentence at the Yeongju Correctional Facility in February 2023.
Seungri was spotted in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, and when suspicions arose that he was running a club business overseas, he dismissed the rumors in an interview, stating, “It is not true that I am leaving Korea,” and “Since it has come to this with the club, would I run a club business again?”
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
