South Korean actress Hwang Jung-eum has admitted to embezzling 4.34 billion KRW (about $3.1 million) from her agency to invest in cryptocurrency. The first court hearing took place on May 15, 2025, at the Jeju District Court.
Judge Lim Jae-nam is overseeing the case under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. Hwang’s legal team confirmed she took the money from her agency, which she fully owns, between early 2022 and December 2022.
“There is no dispute regarding the facts of the case. The defendant invested in cryptocurrency with the intention of growing the company. Since the corporation could not directly hold cryptocurrencies, the investments were temporarily made under her name.” – Hwang’s legal counsel
Out of the total embezzled amount, 4.2 billion KRW (about $3 million) was used for cryptocurrency investments. Hwang’s lawyers argued that since the agency’s income comes from her work, the money was essentially hers. They also said she has already repaid some of the amount by selling cryptocurrency and plans to cover the rest by selling real estate.
The court allowed more time for Hwang to repay the remaining amount. The next hearing date has not been announced yet.
Hwang Jung-eum is a well-known actress who started her career in the girl group Sugar before transitioning to acting. She gained fame for her roles in dramas like “Kill Me, Heal Me” and “She Was Pretty.”
This legal trouble comes amid her ongoing divorce from businessman Lee Young-don, whom she married in 2016. They have two sons together. Hwang filed for divorce in February 2024 after a previous attempt in 2020, which they later reconciled from.
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