Known for her previous membership in the music group Sugar, actress Hwang Jung-eum is facing charges for allegedly diverting around 4.3 billion won from company assets, with prosecutors calling for a 3-year custodial sentence.
As reported by legal authorities on the 21st, the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office has urged the court to impose a 3-year imprisonment for Hwang. This request was made during the final hearing related to her breach of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). The proceedings were held at the Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 2, overseen by Presiding Judge Lim Jae-nam.
The charges against Hwang involve the alleged embezzlement of around 4.34 billion won from corporate finances. This includes approximately 700 million won borrowed by Hunminjeongeum Entertainment, which she purportedly channeled into cryptocurrency, presenting it as advance payments in early 2022.
It has been disclosed that she allocated about 4.2 billion won of the misappropriated funds into cryptocurrency ventures, while the remainder was reportedly used for settling property and local tax obligations, among other costs.
The entertainment agency at the center of this situation is a family-run business in which Hwang is the principal shareholder, holding full ownership, and she is the only performer managed by the agency.
Hwang has acknowledged all accusations and is said to have reimbursed the funds taken as advance payments from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment by June 5. Relevant documentation has been submitted to the Jeju District Court to support this.
Her legal team has appealed for leniency, arguing, "The defendant aimed to expand the company through her investments. She lacked proper understanding of accounting and operational protocols, assuming repayment would rectify the situation, which culminated in the offense. There are no additional victims, and restitution has been made in full; therefore, we request the court's leniency."
Hwang is scheduled to receive her sentence at a hearing set for 10 a.m. on the 25th of the following month.