Actress Hwang Jung Eum's suspended prison sentence in her embezzlement case has been finalized.
According to legal sources, neither Hwang Jung Eum nor the prosecution submitted an appeal by the October 2nd deadline. In criminal trials, appeals must be filed within seven days from the date of sentencing to request a review of the court's decision.
The Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 2, presided over by Chief Judge Im Jae Nam, sentenced Hwang Jung Eum on September 25 for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). She received a two-year prison term, suspended for four years.
The court noted, "The defendant embezzled company funds for personal investments and purchases. The severity of the crime cannot be overlooked," but added, "Considering that the full amount was reimbursed and no victims remain, a suspended sentence is warranted."
In July 2022, Hwang transferred 700 million KRW (approximately 497,700 USD) from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment's loan funds into her personal account under the pretext of a temporary advance and invested the money in cryptocurrency. By October of that year, the total embezzled amount reached 4.34 billion (approximately 3.25 million USD), with approximately 4.2 billion KRW (around 3.1 million USD) used for crypto investments. The remaining funds were reportedly used to pay property and local taxes.
Hwang fully reimbursed the amount in two installments on May 30 and June 5. A representative from her agency stated at the time, "She lacked sufficient knowledge of tax and accounting matters and is deeply reflecting on her actions."
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