South Korean international footballer Hwang Ui-jo is facing a possible four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to illegally filming sexual encounters without consent. The 32-year-old striker, who currently plays for Turkish club Alanyaspor, had initially denied the charges but admitted to the offences during his trial at the Seoul Central District Court.
Prosecutors are seeking a four-year jail term, highlighting the “irreparable damage” caused to the victims. Hwang, who previously played for Nottingham Forest, asked the judge for leniency, offering a public apology to the victims and vowing to use the incident as a “mirror of reflection” in his future life as an athlete.
The scandal surfaced in June 2023 when Hwang’s sister-in-law leaked explicit videos of him in a blackmail attempt, for which she is now serving a three-year prison sentence. One of the victims’ lawyers, Lee Eun-eui, welcomed the prosecution’s sentencing request, expressing relief over the potential punishment.
Hwang, who has been suspended from South Korea’s national team since the allegations emerged last November, has scored 19 goals in 62 appearances for his country. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18.
