[Sportschosun, Lee Ji-hyun] Prosecutors have requested a fine of 10 million won for A, who was indicted on charges including stalking actor Hwang Jung-min.
On the 11th, the final hearing for A, who faces charges including violations of the Stalking Punishment Act, was held before Judge Kim Young-ah of the Criminal Division 4 at the Goyang Branch Court of the Uijeongbu District Court.
That day, prosecutors asked the court to impose a fine of 10 million won on A. They cited the long period over which the offenses took place, the excessive number of contacts, and the posting of threatening messages on social media as reasons for the request. They also stressed that the victim’s side is calling for severe punishment.
A’s defense, however, argued that the stalking charge was not guilty. The lawyer said the contact between the two was not one-sided and suggested that Hwang Jung-min had also initiated contact and continued phone conversations.
In A’s final statement, A admitted some wrongdoing but rejected the claim that the conduct amounted to unilateral stalking. A said, "I think there were things I should not have done," but added, "Calling it stalking, as if I chased one person for two years on my own, is a completely different story." A then urged the court to review the records and judge the case based on the evidence, saying, "Please look at who contacted whom first and what agreements were made between us."
The case began after Hwang Jung-min’s side filed a complaint against A on stalking charges in August last year. In February, the court issued a summary order imposing a fine of 3 million won on A, but the trial continued after A objected and requested a formal hearing.
The two sides remain sharply divided over the nature of the relationship between Hwang Jung-min and A, as well as how their contact continued.
A maintains that the relationship with Hwang Jung-min was not one-sided, but private, and that the two exchanged contact with each other. A has also reportedly released messages and call records on social media, claiming they were exchanged with Hwang Jung-min.
Hwang Jung-min’s side, meanwhile, denies A’s claims and says it has suffered stalking. Earlier, SEM COMPANY, Hwang Jung-min’s agency, said last month that A was "a suspect in a stalking crime who has continuously harassed Hwang Jung-min," and disclosed its legal response.
At the time, the agency said Hwang Jung-min had filed a criminal complaint against A and that the court had imposed temporary measures, including a no-contact order, on three occasions. It also said the court had issued a summary order imposing a fine of 3 million won in connection with the stalking allegations.
Hwang Jung-min’s side is also said to believe that the exchanges of contact between the two took place as part of efforts to stop A’s stalking behavior.
Separate from the criminal case, a civil lawsuit is also underway. A has filed a damages suit against Hwang Jung-min seeking more than 200 million won. A is reportedly arguing that work products, including design drafts and screenplay writing, were provided to Hwang Jung-min.
In the end, the case remains deadlocked, with A insisting the relationship with Hwang Jung-min was private, while Hwang Jung-min’s side says it was a stalking crime in which contact continued despite clear refusal.
Meanwhile, with prosecutors seeking a fine of 10 million won on the day, attention is now focused on how the court will rule on A, who requested a formal trial.
olzllovely@sportschosun.com
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
