Hwang Jung-eum, an actress who was part of the group Sugar, is facing charges of embezzling roughly 4.3 billion won from company funds, with prosecutors recommending a three-year prison sentence.

On the 21st, legal sources reported that the Jeju District Prosecutors' Office proposed a three-year prison term for Hwang during the final trial for breaches of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (embezzlement). The trial was conducted at the Jeju District Court's Criminal Division 2, overseen by Presiding Judge Lim Jae-nam.

Hwang has been accused of embezzling approximately 4.34 billion won from company finances, including nearly 700 million won borrowed by Hunminjeongeum Entertainment, which she invested in cryptocurrency under the pretense of advance payments in early 2022.

Reports indicate that around 4.2 billion won of the embezzled funds was invested in cryptocurrency, while the remaining portion was used for paying property and local taxes, among other expenses.

The agency under scrutiny is a family enterprise in which Hwang has full ownership of the shares and is the only artist represented by the company.

Hwang's legal team has conceded to all the accusations, stating that the amount taken as advance payments from Hunminjeongeum Entertainment was reimbursed by June 5, with the relevant documentation submitted to the Jeju District Court.

Representatives for Hwang have requested leniency, indicating that "The defendant's investment was aimed at expanding the company. She lacked knowledge in accounting and procedures, thinking that repayment would rectify the situation, which resulted in the offense. There are no other victims, and the total amount has been reimbursed, so we request leniency."

The court has scheduled Hwang's sentencing hearing for 10 a.m. on the 25th of the following month.