Hwang Jung-eum, an actress and former member of the group Sugar, is accused of embezzling approximately 4.3 billion won from company funds and is facing a proposed three-year prison sentence.

As reported on the 21st by legal sources, the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office requested a three-year prison term for Hwang during the final trial. The trial, concerning her breach of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement), was held at the Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 2, presided over by Judge Lim Jae-nam.

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

It has been reported that around 4.2 billion won of the misappropriated funds were invested in cryptocurrency, while the balance was used for property and local taxes, among other expenses.

The company involved is entirely family-owned, with Hwang holding 100% of the shares and being the sole artist managed by the agency.

Hwang's legal team has acknowledged all charges and claims to have repaid the advance payments obtained from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment by June 5, providing supporting documentation to the Jeju District Court.

The defense has requested leniency, arguing that the defendant intended to invest to benefit the company and lacked proper understanding of accounting practices and procedures. They assert that this lack of awareness led to the offense, emphasizing that no other individuals were affected and the full amount has been returned.

Hwang is scheduled for a sentencing hearing at 10 a.m. on the 25th of the following month.