Hwang Ui-jo (32), a soccer player, was charged with distributing private videos and blackmail, and it has been confirmed that Hwang's sister-in-law paid a deposit to the court one day before the first trial verdict.

Soccer player Hwang Ui-jo. [Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 13th, Hwang's sister-in-law, Ms. A, deposited 20 million won as a criminal deposit at the Seoul Central District Court that day. A deposit is a system where a defendant who has not reached a settlement with the victim deposits an amount equivalent to the settlement money with the court. The court can consider this as a mitigating factor when determining the defendant's sentence, but there have been criticisms that defendants attempt surprise deposits just before sentencing to seek reduced sentences.

The victim, Mr. B, issued a statement that day, saying, "We have submitted a total of six statements until just before, and in court, we clearly stated that we have no intention of reaching any agreement with the defendant and also refuse the deposit," and criticized, "Nevertheless, the defendant is unilaterally attempting a criminal deposit."

They added, "The victim has no intention of reaching any agreement with the defendant or Hwang's side now or in the future under any conditions, and also has no intention of accepting the deposit."

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 31 (Presiding Judge Park Jun-seok) will deliver the first trial verdict for Ms. A, who is charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory threats), at 10 a.m. on the 14th.

Ms. A, Hwang's sister-in-law, was arrested and indicted last December on charges of sharing photos and sexual videos of Hwang and other women on social networking services (SNS), claiming she was Hwang's ex-girlfriend, and blackmailing Hwang in June last year.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 28th of last month, the prosecution requested a four-year prison sentence for Ms. A. In her final statement, Ms. A said, "I admit to the crime and am reflecting on it, and I deeply regret causing great harm and pain to the victims," adding, "I feel the victims' pain profoundly."