South Korean footballer Hwang Ui-jo has been handed a suspended one-year jail sentence for secretly filming sexual encounters with a woman without her consent.
The 32-year-old striker, playing for Turkish club Alanyaspor, was suspended from the national team in 2023 following the allegations against him. He faced charges for covertly recording two women without their consent on four separate occasions between June and September 2022.
The Seoul Central District Court convicted him in one instance while acquitting him in another, ultimately suspending his sentence for two years. The court emphasised the severity of his actions, citing the number of offences and the nature of the filmed material, stating, “the nature of the crime is not good,” as reported by Yonhap news agency.
“Given the seriousness of the socially harmful effects of illegal filming, it is necessary to punish strictly,” it said.
While the court acknowledged that Hwang Ui-jo admitted to his crime and showed remorse, it noted that the video was further shared on social media by a third party. According to the court, Hwang’s sister-in-law, whose name has not been disclosed, distributed the videos despite knowing the potential for widespread dissemination.
The court stated, “The content has been widely distributed in and out of South Korea… the nature of her crime is very serious,” reflecting on the significant consequences of the actions surrounding the case.
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His sister-in-law has been sentenced to three years in prison for sharing private videos of him as part of a blackmail scheme.
Initially, Hwang denied any wrongdoing but later changed his plea to guilty. In his final testimony, he expressed remorse, stating, “I send out a sincere apology to all those hurt by my wrongful actions.” He also acknowledged the disappointment he caused among his supporters due to his behaviour.
On Friday, when reporters inquired about his feelings towards the victim after the case, Hwang said he was “sorry.” He added, “I personally apologise to football fans and genuinely feel very sorry.”
