The actress, previously a member of the music group Sugar, has been accused of misappropriating around 4.3 billion won from company funds and is facing a possible 3-year imprisonment.

According to information from legal sources on the 21st, the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office has proposed a 3-year prison term for Hwang during the final hearing related to violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement) at Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 2, presided over by Judge Lim Jae-nam.

Hwang is accused of embezzling roughly 4.34 billion won of company funds, which includes about 700 million won borrowed by Hunminjeongeum Entertainment. These funds were reportedly used for cryptocurrency investments under the pretense of advance payments in early 2022.

Reports suggest that approximately 4.2 billion won of the embezzled funds were invested in cryptocurrency, while the remainder was utilized for paying property and local taxes, among other expenses.

The company involved is a family-owned business where Hwang is the sole shareholder, and she is also the only artist managed by this agency.

Hwang has admitted to the charges and is said to have returned the funds taken as advance payments from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment by June 5, with the submission of relevant documents to the Jeju District Court.

Her legal team has requested leniency, asserting that Hwang's intention was to expand the company. They claim she lacked understanding of accounting and procedural norms and believed that repaying the funds would rectify the situation, contributing to the offense. They emphasize that there are no additional victims and the full amount has been reimbursed, seeking favorable consideration.

The sentencing for Hwang is set for 10 a.m. on the 25th of the following month.