Actor Hwang Jung-eum has repaid the entire 4.3 billion won of family corporation funds and is working to quell the controversy. In a situation where she has been indicted on charges of embezzlement, Hwang Jung-eum's 'extraordinary asset' has come under the spotlight.
On the 17th, her agency Y1 Entertainment stated, "Hwang Jung-eum has disposed of her private assets to repay the full amount she used in the form of advances from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment on two occasions, on May 30 and June 5," adding, "As a result, the financial relationship between Hunminjeongeum Entertainment and Hwang Jung-eum has been completely resolved."
Hwang Jung-eum was indicted on charges of incurring losses after investing about 4.34 billion won of the corporation's funds in cryptocurrency after establishing a one-person planning agency 'Hunminjeongeum Entertainment' in 2022. Although the controversy grew with revelations of misuse of funds through a family corporation in which she holds 100% equity, she has expressed her willingness to repay while apologizing.
A notable point is the background that allowed Hwang Jung-eum to repay this amount in a short time. In the process of her second divorce from her ex-husband, businessman Lee Young-don, a former professional golfer, it was revealed that she owns real estate worth about 10 billion won, including a single-family home in Itaewon, Yongsan District, valued at 4.6 billion won and a building in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam District, purchased for 6.2 billion won.
This repayment is also reported to have been made by disposing of some of her assets, and the scale of her wealth, which is exceptional for a celebrity, is coming up again. Hwang Jung-eum's side noted, "As an owner of a personal corporation, not a professional manager, we are deeply reflecting on our lack of tax and accounting knowledge that caused public controversy," adding, "We are fulfilling all necessary measures to assume our legal and moral responsibilities."
Meanwhile, due to this controversy, Hwang Jung-eum has been targeted for editing in the variety show 'Solo-lareseo' in which she was participating, suffering damage to her public image. However, there is growing interest in whether public sentiment will shift in light of her full repayment in an effort to assume some responsibility.
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