Actor Hwang Jung-eum, 41, has been handed a suspended sentence in her initial trial over allegations she embezzled funds from her one-person agency to invest in cryptocurrency.
On the 25th, the Jeju District Court’s Criminal Division 2, presided over by Chief Judge Lim Jae-nam, sentenced Hwang to two years in prison, suspended for four years, for embezzlement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. Prosecutors had sought a three-year prison term.
In 2022, Hwang took out loans totaling 800 million won in the name of her wholly owned label, “Hunminjeongeum Entertainment,” then transferred about 4.2 billion won from the company account to her personal account as “temporary advances” to invest in cryptocurrency.
During the proceedings, her side acknowledged the charges and said the full amount was repaid in two installments in May and June of this year. The court noted, “The Defendant has repaid the entire embezzled sum and is a first-time offender,” explaining the basis for its sentencing.
Immediately after the ruling, Hwang left the courtroom in tears. Speaking with reporters, she said, “I’m sorry for causing concern. I’d never even been to a police station before, so I cried when I heard the verdict.” The Attorney added, “We respect the court’s decision.”
At her first hearing in May, Hwang testified, “I was encouraged to invest in coins because I wanted to grow the company, and I misguidedly used corporate funds.” She also explained, “The company operated solely on income from my entertainment activities, so no third parties were harmed.”
She later liquidated assets to repay the embezzled funds in full and issued an apology on social media, writing, “I’m sorry for causing concern with my misconduct. I will take all necessary responsibility.”
Meanwhile, Hwang finalized her divorce in May after nine years of marriage and is currently raising her two sons on her own.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)