As rumors about actor Hwang Jung-min's private life and recorded phone call files spread online and caused a stir, a strong "neutral gear" mood urging avoidance of hasty judgments has emerged notably among the public and the entertainment industry. Perhaps due to a learning effect from watching the fallout and outcomes of previous actors' private life issues and incidents, there are increasing calls to observe the situation more closely and maintain an unbiased perspective.
On the 29th, posts claiming private contacts and recorded files with Hwang Jung-min spread online. The poster, a person surnamed A, released messenger conversations and phone call records they said were exchanged with Hwang Jung-min, but from the start there were suggestions online that manipulation through AI and splicing was possible.
Regarding this, Hwang Jung-min's agency, Sam Company, labeled the person surnamed A as a 'suspect in stalking crimes' and signaled strong legal action. The agency said in an official statement that "Hwang Jung-min filed a criminal complaint against the poster. The court imposed provisional measures, including three bans on approaching the victim, and recognized the stalking charge, issuing a summary order fining 3 million won. We plan to take additional legal action regarding the maliciously edited posts."
According to Dispatch and other reports, Hwang Jung-min's side said person surnamed A was an ardent fan, there were no inappropriate relationships or physical contact, and there were only three in-person meetings. They acknowledged that kindness shown as a celebrity may have caused misunderstandings, but said that afterwards person surnamed A hinted at extreme choices, sent photos of a dead cat, secretly watched the son's school performance and applied pressure, and continued stalking behavior that crossed the line; contact was maintained as a "defensive measure" to protect the family, ultimately leading to the complaint.
Meanwhile, person surnamed A protested their innocence and issued a direct rebuttal. They said they have lodged a formal trial contesting the summary order fining 3 million won and stated, "The stalking charge is being reconsidered from the beginning in the first trial, and there is no confirmed guilty verdict."
Person surnamed A also claimed the relationship between the two was not one-sided stalking but a private, mutual relationship initiated by Hwang Jung-min. A said, "In August 2023, Hwang Jung-min contacted me first and said, 'We are now partners and acquaintances. Don't act like a fan,'" mentioning planning a soju brand and writing about 30 novels. A added, "This case is emotional, sexual and labor exploitation that occurred under a marked power imbalance. When the relationship ended, there was no settlement or explanation," expressing grievance. Regarding the phone recordings circulated online, A said they removed their own voice for privacy but did not alter or manipulate Hwang Jung-min's statements.
With both sides sharply divided, netizens pointed out that A crossed a line by contacting Hwang Jung-min's then-minor son. In response, A's legal representative told Sports Kyunghyang that "it was a one-time request to deliver materials." The representative explained, "All channels at the company were blocked, and we only asked to deliver creative materials that urgently needed to reach Hwang Jung-min one time. We did not coerce anyone and left the chat immediately. Portraying it as intentional stalking of the minor child is a distortion and exaggeration," they said. It is also reported that A claimed to have known Hwang Jung-min's son beforehand. A also filed a civil damages suit against Hwang Jung-min at the Seoul Central District Court in February.
As Hwang Jung-min's side continues a tough response to the stalking crime, person surnamed A has also announced civil and criminal legal battles, and the narratives of both sides will ultimately be decided in court. It remains to be seen how the substantive truth will be revealed amid the public's "neutral gear."
[photo] video capture
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