On September 8, the Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court’s Criminal Division 4 handed A, a woman in her 40s, a 6 million won fine for violating the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes. The court also ordered her to complete 40 hours of a stalking prevention program. A did not attend the sentencing hearing, with only her lawyer appearing in court.
The court determined that A repeatedly sent messages to Hwang Jung Min despite being aware that the actor did not want further contact.
The judges stated that “considering the number and frequency of the messages, they were sufficient to cause the victim anxiety or fear.” The court also determined that A was aware that Hwang Jung Min continued to refuse contact. It added that even if she had a legitimate reason for reaching out, the content and frequency of the messages went beyond what could reasonably justify her actions.
A was investigated and subsequently indicted after Hwang Jung Min’s side filed a complaint against her in August last year. In February, the court initially issued a summary order imposing a 3 million won fine, but A rejected the decision and requested a formal trial. During the final hearing last month, prosecutors sought a fine of 10 million won.
Throughout the trial, A maintained that her communications with Hwang Jung Min had not been entirely one-sided and argued that she should be acquitted. She admitted sending him messages suggesting suicide, a will, and photos of a dead cat, but claimed that she had never intended to cause him anxiety or fear.
A’s legal team plans to appeal the first-trial verdict. Immediately after the ruling, her lawyer said they would appeal and once again seek to have Hwang Jung Min appear as a witness.
Hwang Jung Min’s side also released a statement shortly after the ruling. His agency, Sem Company, said the court had found A guilty of “the entirety of her continuous and malicious stalking behavior” and sentenced her to a 6 million won fine along with 40 hours of a stalking treatment program.
The agency continued, saying the ruling made clear that A’s actions constituted an obvious stalking crime that had “seriously infringed upon the daily life of the agency’s actor.” It added that the decision confirmed that stalking behavior that threatens another person’s life cannot be justified for any reason, emphasizing that the agency “deeply respects the judiciary’s decision.”
The agency also warned of additional legal measures. “Regardless of the first-trial ruling, we are planning to take all necessary legal action over the dissemination of false information during the trial, as well as the release and distribution of maliciously edited recordings,” the agency stated. “We will also hold the defendant legally accountable for any further actions without offering any leniency.”
The dispute between the two sides became public after A made claims on social media suggesting that she had been involved in a personal relationship with Hwang Jung Min and shared messages and recorded phone conversations. Hwang Jung Min’s side has repeatedly denied the claims, stating that they were inconsistent with the facts.
Separately from the criminal case, a civil lawsuit is also underway. A has filed a damages claim worth approximately 200 million won, alleging that Hwang Jung Min unilaterally withdrew from a business project they had been pursuing together and caused her financial losses.
Sources: Naver