"Illegal Filming" Hwang Ui-jo Faces "Another Victim"... Court Sentences 1 Year Imprisonment, 2 Years Probation

Hwang Ui-jo (33), a former national soccer player who was prosecuted on charges of 'illegal filming,' was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.

Soccer player Hwang Ui-jo, who was prosecuted on charges of illegal filming, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after being sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation in the first trial held on the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 14th, Judge Lee Yong-je of the Criminal Division 13 at the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Hwang, who was indicted for violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (filming using a camera, etc.), to one year in prison with a two-year suspension. He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and attend 400 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.

The court stated, "The defendant filmed sexual intercourse scenes with the victims against their will using a mobile phone on four separate occasions. Considering the number of offenses and the specific content of the recordings, the nature of the crime is serious," and judged that "the victims suffered considerable mental shock and pain due to the crime."

However, the court explained the sentencing reasons, saying, "The defendant has admitted all his crimes and is remorseful. He deposited a substantial amount for the victims after the indictment, and this is his first offense with no prior criminal record."

It added, "Although some of the recordings were distributed on social media by a third party through another crime, causing the victims greater mental shock and pain, the defendant is also a victim of another crime, and it is difficult to identify the victims solely based on the videos or photos distributed by the third party."

Hwang is accused of illegally filming sexual intercourse videos or recording video calls without the consent of two victims from June to September 2022. He filed a police complaint against his sister-in-law, who shared photos and videos of himself and women on social media, on charges including intimidation, but during the investigation, evidence of illegal filming was uncovered. The prosecution indicted Hwang without detention for violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act.

Last year, Hwang unexpectedly deposited 200 million won as a bond at the court. The prosecution stated, "The defendant deposited 200 million won even after the conclusion of the trial when the victim clearly stated that they did not intend to receive the settlement money or reach an agreement," and requested, "Please do not consider this favorably in sentencing." At the last sentencing hearing, the prosecution demanded a four-year prison term for Hwang.

Immediately after the sentencing, when reporters asked Hwang if he had any words for the victims, he briefly replied, "I'm sorry." He added, "Personally, I have apologized a lot to soccer fans and truly feel sorry."

Lee Eun-ui, the legal representative of the victims, stated, "The court has effectively given a pardon to a criminal of illegal filming who left the victims with lifelong burdens and anxiety, and to a famous soccer player who committed blatant secondary harm," and announced plans to appeal.