Police have concluded there is no charge against staff of the agency representing soccer national team member Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) over allegations that his side abused power against a chauffeured car service company.
However, the case has been sent to prosecutors after the complainant filed an objection. Under current procedures, if a complainant objects to a police decision not to refer a case, it is automatically transferred to prosecutors.
On the 9th, Hwang Hee-chan's agency, Be The H, said in a press release that "Seoul Songpa Police Station has decided not to refer two cases filed against our staff on charges including fraud, joint intimidation, and obstruction of business due to insufficient evidence."
Earlier, startup company A accused the agency's staff to police, alleging that Hwang Hee-chan's side engaged in so-called "gapjil," including failing to pay for the chauffeured car service.
A said that a contract for chauffeured car services signed in 2024 with Hwang Hee-chan's side included a condition that Hwang post promotional content for the cars on social media (SNS), but claimed that although Hwang received the services, he did not fulfill that obligation.
Hwang Hee-chan's side countered that the chauffeured service and advertising model activities were exchanged under a legitimate contract, and that there was no financial harm or deception.
The agency said the same day that "it was clearly established by the non-referral decision that this was a legitimate bilateral contract under which we received chauffeured services in return for waiving the advertising model fee in consideration of the other company's financial situation."
It added, "As a member of the Korea men's national soccer team, Hwang Hee-chan will focus on his duties and do his best to repay fans with strong results at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America."