South Korean Footballer Hwang Ui-jo Receives Suspended Sentence for Illegal Filming

South Korean footballer Hwang Ui-jo has received a suspended one-year jail sentence for illegally filming sexual encounters with a woman without her consent. The 32-year-old striker, who plays for Turkish club Alanyaspor, was suspended from the national team in 2023 amid the allegations.

Hwang was indicted for secretly filming two women without their consent on four occasions between June and September 2022. The Seoul Central District Court convicted him in one case but acquitted him in the other, suspending his sentence for two years.

The court acknowledged the seriousness of Hwang's crime, stating that "considering that he filmed them with a cellphone during sexual intercourse against their will, the number of times the crime was committed and the specific details of the filmed material, the nature of the crime is not good."

However, the court also noted that Hwang admitted to the crime, expressed remorse, and that the video was shared on social media by a third party. Hwang's sister-in-law, who was not named, shared the videos despite "knowing it would be disseminated indiscriminately," the court said.

Hwang initially denied wrongdoing but later pleaded guilty. "I send out a sincere apology to all those hurt by my wrongful actions," Hwang said during his final testimony. "I am also sorry for disappointing the people who have adored and cheered for me with my improper behaviour."

On Friday, when asked by reporters if he had anything to say to the victim after the case, Hwang responded that he was "sorry." "I personally apologise to football fans and genuinely feel very sorry," he added.

Hwang played as a striker for clubs including Seongnam FC, Gamba Osaka, Bordeaux, and was an unused reserve for Nottingham Forest, and had been a key player for the South Korea national team before his suspension.