Hwang Ui-jo’s Sister-in-Law Sentenced for Blackmail and Privacy Violation
South Korean international Hwang Ui-jo’s sister-in-law has been sentenced to three years in prison for posting explicit videos of the footballer online and attempting to blackmail him. The defendant, who remains unnamed, shared the videos on social media while posing as an ex-girlfriend accusing Hwang of infidelity.
The release of the videos prompted a separate police investigation into the Nottingham Forest striker, focusing on whether the sexual encounters were filmed illegally without consent. Hwang has vehemently denied the allegations, and prosecutors have yet to clear or formally charge him.
According to the Seoul Central District Court, the defendant posted the videos “knowing it would be disseminated indiscriminately.” The court emphasized the severity of the crime, stating that the content had been widely distributed both domestically and internationally.
The three-year sentence was one year less than the prosecution’s demand. The court considered the defendant’s acknowledgment of the crime and Hwang’s plea for leniency. In her final testimony, the defendant expressed remorse, saying, “I have caused great harm to the victims and I sincerely regret what I have done.”
Hwang, 31, is currently on loan from Forest to Turkish club Alanyaspor. Despite scoring in a World Cup qualifier against Singapore in November, he has been suspended from the national squad by the Korea Football Association pending the outcome of the investigation. The suspension prevented him from participating in the Asian Cup in Qatar.
Hwang has made 62 appearances for South Korea, scoring 19 goals. The ongoing investigation and legal proceedings have cast a shadow over his career and reputation.
