Hwang Ui-jo, a member of the national team, is sentenced to one year in prison for illegal filming and suspended for two years, effectively ending his career in the national team

Feb 14, 2025

South Korea's national striker Hwang Ui-jo was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence in the first trial on charges of illegal filming. With this sentence, Hwang Ui-jo's national team career is virtually over.

Judge Lee Yong-je of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Hwang Ui-jo, who was indicted on charges of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (filming using cameras, etc.) on the afternoon of the 14th. The court sentenced him to one year in prison and two years of probation. The prosecution's sentence was four years in prison.

The court that sentenced Hwang Ui-jo to probation for imprisonment needs to strictly punish given the seriousness of social harm caused by illegal filming crimes. He explained, "The crime is not good in light of the number of crimes and the details of the filming by filming sex scenes against the intention using a mobile phone four times."

The court also added that it considered that Hwang Ui-jo admitted and reflected on the illegal filming and that Hwang Ui-jo did not participate in the crime because the filming was circulated on social media due to the crime of a third party.

Hwang Ui-jo's case dates back to June 2022. Photos and videos of Hwang Ui-jo's private life were revealed through an SNS account. The person who exposed the video claimed that he was in a relationship with Hwang Ui-jo and gaslighted numerous women in a way that avoided establishing a relationship because they had to go to bed and go abroad again if they acted like they were in a relationship with the other person. Celebrities, influencer, and ordinary people are meeting with multiple people at the same time, and I don't know how many victims will be there in the future", he revealed. The reveler even foreshadowed further revelations.

The controversy quickly spread when the incomprehensible privacy of the national striker was revealed. In response, Hwang Ui-jo's side took legal action. Hwang Ui-jo Management UJ Sports said "All of the uploads through SNS are untrue. We will strongly respond to the dissemination and dissemination of the privacy of the illegally acquired player, which has tarnished the player's reputation," he said, adding that he had already requested an investigation.

Photo=UJ Management

Hwang Ui-jo even wrote a letter in his own handwriting "I have never done anything illegal like many people are concerned about my personal life. Including this, the content of the first article is also groundless. The person who posted the post is a criminal who defamed me with false information and threatened me with the opportunity of possessing private videos through illegal channels, and he/she claimed that the disclosure was not true and that he/she was a victim.

However, contrary to Hwang's claims, Hwang was investigated as a suspect, not a victim during the police investigation. It was because it was judged that there was an illegal filming of the video without the consent of the other party. Hwang Ui-jo hid his suspect status and even played in the national team game, raising controversy.

사진=황의조 SNS

Daehwan, a law firm that served as Hwang Ui-jo's legal representative at the time, said in a statement, "(The video) was agreed upon between the couple at the time. Hwang Ui-jo does not currently possess the video and has never leaked it at all", and pleaded not guilty to Hwang Ui-jo. The lawyer for the victim of Hwang Ui-jo's alleged illegal filming immediately refuted it. The victims claimed that they had never agreed with Hwang Ui-jo on filming the video.

The continued police investigation revealed that the person who exposed Hwang Ui-jo's private life video was Hwang Ui-jo's brother-in-law, which was even more shocking. His brother-in-law was in charge of Hwang Ui-jo's management with his brother, and he felt betrayed by Hwang Ui-jo, so he committed a crime

confessed to committing. His brother-in-law was sentenced to three years in prison in both the first and second trials and is in prison.

Later, Hwang Ui-jo was also indicted without detention. In July, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had indicted Hwang Ui-jo without detention on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (filming using cameras).

The first trial of Hwang Ui-jo's case was held in October last year. Hwang Ui-jo, who attended the court, admitted his crime, contrary to his previous position. It was found that he also submitted an opinion to the court to acknowledge the prosecution.

However, the prosecution said "The victim's wounds and shame were severe, and (the video) was circulated and serious damage was caused." It is questionable whether Hwang Ui-jo is truly reflecting on himself", and demanded a four-year prison term.

Sportschosun DB

In the final announcement of his position, Hwang Ui-jo said, `I will not do anything wrong in the future, and I will live with my best efforts as a soccer player. I earnestly ask for the utmost leniency this time."

Finally, the court sentenced Hwang Ui-jo to a suspended sentence of imprisonment. Hwang Ui-jo is now difficult to play as a member of the national team. According to Article 14 of the operating regulations of the Fair Committee of the Korea Football Association, disciplinary action is possible in cases of violence, sexual violence, and serious damage to dignity as an athlete. Those who commit crimes related to sexual violence can also be expelled, which is the highest level of disciplinary action. Although the level of disciplinary action by the Korea Football Association should be examined in the future, it is observed that the highest level of disciplinary action is likely because Hwang Ui-jo's criminal act has been a big social controversy.

His career as a soccer player has become difficult in Korea as well. According to Chapter 3, Article 9, Paragraph 7 of the Korea Football Association's Player Registration Regulations, players who are being executed with a sentence of imprisonment or higher or who are under probation cannot register themselves. Even if the player registration is possible again after the probation period is over, no club is expected to embrace Hwang Ui-jo, who has committed socially unacceptable crimes.

It is the all-time fall of Hwang Ui-jo, who was once a striker representing South Korea.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.