Hwang Jung-eum, an actress with past affiliation to the group Sugar, stands accused of misappropriating around 4.3 billion won of corporate resources, with a 3-year imprisonment term currently being pursued.

On the 21st, legal insiders revealed that during the conclusive trial at the Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 2, presided by Judge Lim Jae-nam, the prosecution requested a 3-year sentence against Hwang for contravening the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement).

Hwang is on trial for allegedly misappropriating approximately 4.34 billion won from corporate accounts, notably including about 700 million won from funds borrowed by Hunminjeongeum Entertainment, purportedly invested in cryptocurrency as advanced payments in early 2022.

Investigations reveal that close to 4.2 billion won of the embezzled capital was channeled into cryptocurrency investments, with the residual sum being directed towards property and local taxation among other financial obligations.

The enterprise implicated is a familial entity where Hwang maintains complete ownership, being the sole performer it represents.

Acknowledging the charges, Hwang's team has reimbursed the funds initially taken as advances from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment by June 5, having provided corroborative documentation to the Jeju District Court.

In seeking clemency, Hwang's legal counsel argued, "The defendant embarked on investments with the aim of business expansion. Her deficiencies in accounting and procedural knowledge led her to assume that reimbursement would rectify the situation, resulting in the offense. With no other parties aggrieved and full restitution made, we seek leniency."

The judgment for Hwang is slated for 10 a.m. on the 25th of the upcoming month.