South Korean actress Hwang Jung-eum will get suspended jail time period for embezzling $3M from her company to fund crypto investments.
South Korean actress Hwang Jung-eum has grow to be the centre of a high-profile crypto scandal that shocked followers and the leisure world. A court docket discovered that she had embezzled about ₩4.34 billion, which is roughly $3.1 million, from her personal administration company.
On Thursday, the Jeju District Courtroom handed Hwang a two-year jail sentence, suspended for 4 years.
She is going to keep away from serving jail time until she violates the phrases of her probation.
Courtroom’s Determination on the Hwang Jung-eum Crypto Scandal
The court docket dominated underneath South Korea’s Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Particular Financial Crimes. Prosecutors had requested for a three-year jail sentence, however judges thought of a number of elements.
NEW: 🇰🇷 South Korean actor Hwang Jung-eum, co-host of SBS Plus’s actuality present “As a result of I’m Single,” is dealing with authorized motion for allegedly embezzling 4.34 billion received ($3.1 million) from her personal leisure company and investing round 4.2 billion received of it in cryptocurrency. pic.twitter.com/XYWfCGKebB
— Bitcoin Information (@BitcoinNewsCom) September 27, 2025
Hwang had no earlier prison report and repaid your complete sum earlier than sentencing.
These factors, mixed together with her public admission of wrongdoing and apology, might need led the court docket to grant leniency.
How the Crypto Transactions Occurred
Based on court docket information, the embezzlement occurred by way of 13 separate transactions in early 2022. Hwang withdrew funds from her company’s accounts underneath the pretext of provisional funds, and later directed the cash into private accounts.
Round ₩4.2 billion, or about $3 million, went towards crypto purchases. Smaller quantities had been reportedly used for property taxes and different private bills paid by bank card.
Repayments and Public Apology
Throughout her first court docket look in Could of final ear, Hwang requested for extra time to repay the funds. At that stage, she had already returned about ₩3 billion.
By promoting private property, she repaid the rest in two instalments on Could 30 and June 5, of final 12 months. Her company confirmed by mid-June of the present 12 months that each one monetary obligations had been resolved.
In court docket and in public statements, Hwang apologised for what she known as a misjudgment.
She admitted to mishandling firm assets and expressed regret for the scandal that broken her popularity.
Business Fallout After the Crypto Scandal
The leisure business responded, as a number of tv networks edited Hwang out of ongoing packages. Some model endorsements had been even suspended or cancelled.
Advertisers and broadcasters usually distance themselves rapidly from high-profile figures dealing with authorized costs.
Although the court docket famous that the company concerned was primarily a one-person firm and exterior victims had been restricted, the reputational injury has been huge.
Authorized observers say that the case reveals a rising concentrate on how celebrities handle funds and use firm funds. South Korea has tightened laws round crypto in recent times, and sure did so to scale back unlawful actions and enhance transparency.
Profession Background of Hwang Jung-eum
Hwang debuted in 2001 as a member of the Ok-pop woman group Sugar earlier than transitioning to appearing. She turned extensively recognized for her roles in hit dramas corresponding to Kill Me, Heal Me and She Was Fairly.
The scandal has forged a shadow over her long-standing profession and should have an effect on future alternatives in each tv and endorsements.