The actress Hwang Jung-eum, formerly part of the musical group Sugar, stands accused of misappropriating approximately 4.3 billion won from company resources and could be sentenced to 3 years in prison.

As reported by legal sources on the 21st, the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office has called for a 3-year prison term for Hwang during the concluding trial phase for breaching the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). This proceeding was held in the Criminal Division 2 of the Jeju District Court, overseen by Presiding Judge Lim Jae-nam.

Hwang is accused of misappropriating around 4.34 billion won from company coffers, which includes approximately 700 million won borrowed by Hunminjeongeum Entertainment. These funds were reportedly invested in cryptocurrency, disguised as advance payments, during early 2022.

It has been disclosed that she allocated roughly 4.2 billion won of the embezzled sum to cryptocurrency investments. The rest of the funds went towards settling property and local taxes among other obligations.

The agency involved is a wholly family-owned business with Hwang owning all the shares, and she is the only artist under its management.

Hwang has acknowledged all allegations and is said to have returned the money taken as advance payments from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment by June 5. She provided the relevant documentation to the Jeju District Court.

Her legal team has appealed for mercy, arguing, "The defendant invested with the goal of expanding the company. She lacked understanding of accounting and procedural matters, assuming that repayment would rectify any problems, which led to her actions. There are no other victims involved, and the full amount has been repaid, thus we request leniency."

The court is set to announce the sentencing for Hwang at 10 a.m. on the 25th of the coming month.