Soccer player Hwang Ui-jo, 33, was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year probation in the first trial regarding illegal filming charges.
On the 14th, presiding judge Lee Yong-je of the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court conducted the sentencing hearing for Hwang, who was indicted for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (using cameras and other means) and sentenced him to one year in prison with a two-year probation. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program.
Hwang is accused of filming sexual intercourse scenes with the victim multiple times without consent. He is also accused of recording a video call screen showing another victim's naked body without consent.
The court acknowledged Hwang's guilt for illegally filming the sexual intercourse scenes but acquitted him of the charge of secretly recording the video call screen.
The court stated, 'The defendant filmed sexual intercourse videos against the other party's will on four occasions, and the victim suffered great shock,' adding, 'Considering the seriousness of illegal filming crimes, it is necessary to impose a strict punishment.'
However, it noted, 'Our Supreme Court holds that only acts of directly photographing a person's body fall under the filming act using cameras as per the Special Act on Sexual Violence Crimes,' and 'Recording a video call is considered an act of capturing images rather than directly filming a person’s body, and therefore cannot be deemed as direct filming.'
It further stated, 'Regarding the allegations of capturing the victim's naked body through coercion, it is difficult to recognize the act of filming itself as a crime, given that the victim was aware of the lewdness of their actions and the fact that the act was being filmed.'
The case gained attention in June 2023 when posts and videos exposing Hwang's private life began circulating on social media (SNS). Hwang filed a complaint against the person distributing the videos for charges including intimidation. Police investigations revealed that the individual distributing the videos was Hwang's sister-in-law, who had been acting as his manager. Hwang’s sister-in-law was sentenced to three years in prison last September for distributing illegal filming materials and on charges of intimidation.