Actor Hwang Jung-min, 55, objected to a court's compulsory mediation decision in a damages lawsuit filed by a woman in her 40s, identified as A, who raised allegations about his private life. As a result, both sides will continue their legal battle in a formal trial.
According to legal sources on the 19th, Hwang Jung-min's side filed an objection the previous day to the compulsory mediation decision issued by senior mediator Ahn Mi-young at the Seoul Court Mediation Center.
On the 14th, when the mediation session was held, neither side attended. As no agreement was reached, the mediator issued a compulsory mediation decision in lieu of a settlement. As of now, A's side is said not to have filed an objection.
The lawsuit began in February when A filed a claim for 200 million won in damages against Hwang Jung-min. A claims that after receiving a business-related proposal from Hwang Jung-min, A produced design drafts and wrote a script but did not receive fair compensation.
A also claimed through social networking services (SNS) and other channels that there was a private relationship in the past with Hwang Jung-min, and disclosed alleged call recordings and messages exchanged between the two. Hwang Jung-min's side refuted this, noting that even when Hwang initiated contact, it was mostly for the purpose of ending the relationship.
A is also on criminal trial on suspicion of stalking Hwang Jung-min. Hwang Jung-min filed a complaint against A in Aug. last year, and temporary measures, including a restraining order, were imposed on A afterward.
At a sentencing hearing held on the 11th before a single-judge criminal panel of the Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court, prosecutors sought a fine of 10 million won for A, citing a large volume of contacts over a long period and posts on SNS with threatening content. Hwang Jung-min's side is petitioning for a heavy sentence.
The verdict on charges including violation of the anti-stalking law by A is scheduled for the 8th of next month.