Actress Hwang Jung-eum was indicted on charges of embezzling over 4.2 billion won and was sentenced to a suspended prison term. On September 25, the Criminal Division 2 of Jeju District Court sentenced Hwang Jung-eum, who was tried for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement), to two years in prison with a four-year suspension.

Hwang Jung-eum is accused of embezzling approximately 4.2 billion won from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment, a family company in which she owns 100% of the shares, around 2022. The agency is a one-person company with no other affiliated entertainers besides Hwang Jung-eum. Of the embezzled funds, 4.2 billion won was used for cryptocurrency investments. The remaining amount was confirmed to have been used for credit card repayments for property tax and local tax payments.

The court explained the sentencing by stating, "Most of the damages were used for speculative investments and the purchase of expensive personal items, so the guilt is not light." However, considering that Hwang Jung-eum fully reimbursed the embezzled amount and is a first-time offender, the court decided on a suspended sentence.

Hwang Jung-eum admitted all the charges during the trial. She disposed of her personal assets and repaid the amounts used as temporary payments from the company on May 30 and June 5.

After the trial, Hwang Jung-eum left the courtroom in tears and expressed her feelings in front of the press, saying, "I am sorry for causing concern" and "I just cried." Her lawyer stated, "We respect the court's decision. She is deeply remorseful and apologizes for causing concern." Regarding the possibility of an appeal, the lawyer added that they will review it after receiving the judgment.

Hwang Jung-eum's agency, Y1 Entertainment, said, "We sincerely apologize once again for causing concern to fans and many others due to this incident. We will do our best to show a more mature and responsible image as an actress in the future."

In July 2022, Hwang Jung-eum borrowed 800 million won under the name of Hunminjeongeum Entertainment and transferred 700 million won from the agency's account to her personal account as temporary payments to invest in cryptocurrency. It is known that she invested 4.2 billion won in cryptocurrency through a total of 13 transactions by October of the same year using the same method.

According to the charges, during this process, she also paid 4.44 million won in credit card bills and 1 million won in stock-backed loan interest, which were imposed on her for property and local taxes, using the embezzled funds.

Hwang Jung-eum admitted all the charges during the trial and stated that she repaid all the amounts used as temporary payments from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment on May 30 and June 5.

At the first hearing, Hwang Jung-eum claimed, "I established and operated an entertainment agency, a company in which I hold 100% of the shares. Although the funds are under the company's name, they are earnings from my activities, so I made an immature judgment."

Due to this incident, Hwang Jung-eum has taken legal responsibility and will take necessary measures according to future legal procedures. According to the court's ruling, she will remain under a suspended sentence for the next four years.