Hwang Jung Eum, who received a suspended sentence for ”embezzlement of 4.2 billion won in company funds”

Actress Hwang Jung-eum, who was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial on suspicion of embezzling approximately 4.2 billion won of company funds, has abandoned her appeal, making the sentence final.

According to legal circles on the 5th, Hwang Jung-eum received a sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended for four years, on the 25th of last month for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). Neither Hwang Jung-eum's side nor the prosecution handling the case submitted an appeal.

In criminal cases, if an appeal is not filed with the court within seven days of the sentencing date, the sentence becomes final.

The Criminal Division of the Jeju District Court (Presiding Judge Im Jae-nam) stated on the 25th of last month: stated, "The defendant embezzled company funds and used them for speculative investments and personal purchases, so the culpability is not light." However, it added, "Considering that the victimised company is one in which the defendant holds all shares, meaning any damage caused to the company ultimately belongs to the defendant, that there are no other victims, and that the full amount of damages has been repaid, the sentence was determined accordingly," before imposing the prison term.

Hwang Jung-eum faced allegations in 2022 of embezzling approximately 4.2 billion won from Hoonmin Jung-eum Entertainment. This agency is a planning company owned as a family corporation with Hwang Jung-eum holding 100% ownership, and Hwang Jung-eum is its sole affiliated artist.

It was reported that Hwang invested 4.2 billion won of the embezzled funds in cryptocurrency, using the remainder for credit card payments to cover property tax and local taxes.

Hwang's side revealed that during the court proceedings, she admitted to all charges and fully repaid the amount withdrawn from Hoonmin Hwang Entertainment as an advance payment in two instalments on 30th May and 5th June this year.