Hwang Ui-jo's Sister-in-law Confesses "Betrayal Felt, Led to Crime"... Submits Letter of Apology to Court

Submitting a Letter of Apology to the Court and Pleading for Leniency

The sister-in-law of soccer player Hwang Ui-jo (32), who had denied allegations of distributing illegal recordings and threatening his brother-in-law, has confessed to the crime.

Player Hwang Ui-jo. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 21st, Hankook Ilbo reported, "Lee, the sister-in-law who was indicted and detained on charges including violation of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, submitted a handwritten letter of remorse to the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 31 (Presiding Judge Park Jun-seok)." The letter confessed that she committed the crime out of a sense of betrayal when Hwang Ui-jo tried to distance himself and his brother and sister-in-law, who were in charge of his management after his move to the UK. Until now, Lee had denied all allegations of distribution and threats, saying, "I think I was hacked."

In the letter of remorse, Lee stated, "My husband and I, who had a stable life, gave up everything in Korea and stayed abroad for five years solely to support Hwang Ui-jo's success," adding, "However, last year, during the process of preparing for his return to a UK club, friction arose between my husband and Hwang Ui-jo over player management." She continued, "I felt betrayed because I thought my husband's hard work was not recognized at all. I, too, had given up my studies and dreams for Hwang Ui-jo alone and was living a lonely life abroad following my husband, so the depth of my betrayal was even greater," and confessed, "I committed the crime to reprimand my brother-in-law, who did not acknowledge our couple's dedication, and to make him rely on us again."

Lee further confessed her motive, saying, "As I usually managed Hwang Ui-jo's private life, I found a sex video with a woman on his phone and tried to use it to threaten Hwang Ui-jo to make him rely on us again." She also explained, "I only intended to reprimand Hwang Ui-jo, so I edited the video to ensure the woman's face looking at the camera was not exposed," adding, "I never intended to ruin Hwang Ui-jo's career or harm the woman."

She also expressed regret and remorse. Lee said, "I was temporarily blinded by revenge and fear and committed an irreversible mistake," and added, "If I could turn back time, I would exchange my life without hesitation to undo everything as an act of atonement." She stated, "During the remaining trial process, I will not downplay or conceal my crime, accept punishment, and live with lifelong apologies to the victims," and conveyed, "I sincerely want to apologize to the victimized woman as well."

Lee was indicted and detained last year on charges of sharing photos and videos of Hwang Ui-jo and women on social media, claiming to be Hwang Ui-jo's ex-girlfriend, and alleging that Hwang Ui-jo had relationships with multiple women causing harm. Since May last year, she has also been charged with threatening to distribute recordings by saying to Hwang Ui-jo, "It will be fun if the recordings are released, look forward to it." When the private videos were made public, Hwang Ui-jo filed a police complaint against the unknown distributor. The prosecution, after investigating related parties and conducting supplementary investigations, revealed that the distributor was his sister-in-law, Lee. Meanwhile, Hwang Ui-jo was sent to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office without detention on the 8th on charges of illegal filming and secondary harm.