Prosecutors sought a fine of 10 million won for a woman in her 40s accused of stalking actor Hwang Jung-min.
At a sentencing hearing held on the 11th before the single-judge Criminal Division 4 of the Goyang branch of the Uijeongbu District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Young-a), prosecutors asked the court to impose a fine of 10 million won on a woman in her 40s, identified as A, who is charged with violating the Act on Punishment of Stalking Crimes and other offenses.
Prosecutors said, "The period of the offenses was lengthy and the number of one-sided contacts by the defendant was excessively high," adding, "During the trial, the defendant also posted threatening messages about the victim and the victim's family on social networking services (SNS), and we took into account that the victim petitioned for severe punishment."
By contrast, A's side argues that it has not been proven that Hwang Jung-min clearly and consistently refused contact and is claiming innocence. A's attorney said that while Hwang once expressed a desire to refrain from contact, there were instances afterward when Hwang called A first or responded favorably to A's messages.
In a final statement, A said, "I will not say that I only did the right things over the past two years," but added, "The fact that there were moments when my emotions collapsed and I did things I shouldn't have is entirely different from saying I was a stalker who one-sidedly followed a person for two years."
A continued, "Please look exactly at what the records show about who contacted whom first, what words were exchanged, and what promises were made," adding, "What I fear most is a conclusion that one person acted unilaterally when there was no relationship at all between us."
In its questioning of the defendant, prosecutors asked about the circumstances under which A sent Hwang Jung-min messages implying suicide and files of a will. They also sought to ascertain why A sent photos of a cat's carcass and tissues stained with blood and why A contacted Hwang's underage son.
A acknowledged sending such messages and files but answered that there was no intent to cause anxiety or fear to Hwang Jung-min, saying they were sent to inform Hwang of A's condition and to bring closure to the relationship.
The court plans to hold a sentencing hearing at 9 a.m. on the 8th of next month. Earlier, after a complaint by Hwang Jung-min's side in Aug. last year, A was investigated and indicted, and in Feb. the court issued A a summary order of a 3 million won fine. A objected and requested a formal trial. The case became known after A recently claimed on A's SNS that there had been a personal relationship with Hwang and disclosed call recordings and message conversations.