Korean media reported that on September 25, Jeju District Court, chaired by Chief Justice Lim Jae Nam, issued a verdict sentencing actress Hwang Jung Eum to 2 years in prison but a 4-year suspended sentence, for embezzlement (seagreement) under the Special Law on Increasing the Penalty for Economic Crimes.
According to the indictment, in 2022, Hwang Jung Eum withdrew money 13 times from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment - a private entertainment company in which she owns 100% of shares and is the only artist - with a total amount of more than 4.2 billion won.
This money is mainly used for transactions of buying and selling cryptocurrency (virtual currency), and paying for credit card bills worth 4.44 million won and 1 million won in interest.
At the trial, Hwang Jung Eum admitted all allegations. The amount of seafaring money was fully refunded in two installments on May 30 and June 5, 2024.
In the final debate of the trial, her lawyer stated, "The defendant invested in cryptocurrency with the intention of expanding the company. However, due to a poor understanding of accounting processes, she mistakenly thought that the refund would solve the problem. This is a mistake in judgment, not an intentional act of doing wrong.
In the verdict, the court stated: "The defendant has returned the entire amount of the seam and has no criminal record. These factors have been considered when deciding on the sentence".
After the verdict, Hwang Jung Eum expressed regret to the press: During my focus on work, I did not manage financial and accounting issues well. I am extremely regretful and will continue to reflect on my actions.
Hwang Jung Eum was born in 1984, a famous Korean actor. She is known for many works such as "Family is No. 1", "Giant", "Kill Me Heal Me", "Beautiful Sister"... Hwang Jung Eum also left his mark on many TV and entertainment programs.
In his personal life, Hwang Jung Eum was involved in a scandal over his divorce from businessman Lee Young Don. The actress got married in 2016 and has 2 sons. She and her husband officially completed divorce proceedings on May 26, 2025.
