Hwang Jung-eum finalizes divorce, asset seizure to be lifted

Actor Hwang Jung-eum / Courtesy of CJeS Entertainment

Actor Hwang Jung-eum has officially finalized her divorce, with her agency confirming that the legal proceedings have concluded amicably.

As a result, the provisional seizure of her assets, which had been imposed during the divorce process, is expected to be lifted.

“Hwang Jung-eum’s divorce has been finalized with the family court’s mediation decision. The divorce is now legally effective," her agency Y.ONE Entertainment said in a statement Monday.

The agency also addressed recent reports regarding the provisional seizure of real estate assets, explaining that both parties had taken legal steps to preserve their respective interests in shared property. The agency said such measures are common in divorce proceedings and were part of the standard process.

Now that the case is closed, all asset seizure measures will be lifted, it said. “We sincerely apologize for the concern caused by various issues during the actress’s personal divorce proceedings,” the agency said. “We are also doing our best to bring a swift resolution to the ongoing legal matters involving her personal corporation.”

Hwang married in 2016 and has two sons. The couple previously faced a divorce crisis in 2020 but reconciled during court mediation in 2021. However, in February last year, Hwang filed for divorce again, citing her husband’s infidelity.

More recently, Hwang was indicted on charges of embezzling approximately 4.3 billion won (about $3.2 million) from a family-run agency in which she holds 100 percent ownership. She allegedly invested around 4.2 billion won of the embezzled funds in cryptocurrency.

Hwang admitted to withdrawing corporate funds as provisional payments, saying that she has already repaid a large portion and is in the process of settling the remaining balance.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.