Hwang Jung-eum Returns After Year-Long Hiatus Following Embezzlement and Defamation Scandals: “It’s the Result of My Actions”

Hwang Jung-eum has announced her return after a year amidst several controversies, calmly opening up about the events that took place.

On the 19th, Hwang Jung-eum appeared before the public for the first time in about a year by uploading a video to her personal YouTube channel.

Addressing the embezzlement controversy, she stated, “There was a major incident that many of you are aware of, and I’ve been frantically working to resolve it. I did my best to take responsibility on my own to ensure that no one else suffered because of me.”

Previously, Hwang Jung-eum was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for four years, on charges of embezzling 4.3 billion won from her one-person agency to invest in cryptocurrency. While she repaid the full amount of the damages, her land and building in Itaewon were provisionally seized.

Furthermore, during her divorce proceedings with her ex-husband A, she posted a photo of a non-celebrity woman B on social media with the caption, “Please marry my husband. Can’t you just divorce and go to Bangkok?”

However, B was completely unrelated to A. Hwang Jung-eum apologized, saying, “There was a misunderstanding while sorting out my personal affairs. I sincerely apologize for posting a non-celebrity’s post and causing harm to the individual and those around them.” As B’s identity spread rapidly, B sued Hwang Jung-eum for defamation, but the legal issue was settled after the lawsuit was withdrawn.

The controversies led to her commercials being taken down, resulting in penalty payments. Hwang Jung-eum shared, “I have paid all the penalties. I know that paying money doesn’t erase my mistake, so I am very sorry. It was a truly meaningful occasion where many staff members, directors, and the High Kick family gathered after a long time. The sadness is indescribable, but what can I do? It is the result of my actions.”

Mentioning that she handled everything on her own, she joked, “Do I even have a husband?” before confessing her fear of returning, saying, “It was really hard. Acting is the only thing I know how to do, so I started wondering if I would ever be able to act again.”

She added, “I wondered what I would do with my life and how I would make money to survive. I felt a vague sense of fear and dread. But when I looked at my children, they were so beautiful. I think I was able to endure because of them.”