SEOUL, Sept 25 — South Korean actress Hwang Jung-eum was given a suspended prison sentence today after admitting to embezzling more than 4.2 billion won (RM12.65 million) from her own agency to fund a cryptocurrency investment, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

The Jeju District Court reportedly sentenced the She Was Pretty and Kill Me, Heal Me star to two years in prison, suspended for four years, for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. 

Prosecutors had sought a three-year jail term at her final hearing in August.

According to the indictment, Hwang misappropriated about 4.34 billion won from her agency in early 2022. The company, a family-run entity solely owned by the actress, managed only one client — Hwang herself. 

Of the funds, roughly 4.2 billion won went into cryptocurrency, while the rest was reportedly used to pay property and local taxes via credit card.

During her first trial on May 15, Hwang admitted to all charges and asked the court for more time to repay the money rather than proceed immediately to sentencing. 

At that point, she had returned about three billion won. 

She later sold personal assets and cleared the remaining balance in two instalments on May 30 and June 5, submitting proof of repayment to the court, Korea JoongAng Daily said.

Her legal team told the court she had invested in cryptocurrency “hoping to grow her company” and, due to inexperience in accounting, “naively believed there would be no issue as long as she could repay the money.”

“I was just trying to work hard and live honestly, but I neglected financial and tax matters, which led to this situation,” Hwang reportedly said during her final hearing on August 21. 

“I am remorseful.”

The court noted that Hwang was a first-time offender and had fully repaid the amount, granting a delay in proceedings to allow her compensation plan to be executed.

Hwang, who debuted in the early 2000s as a member of the girl group Sugar before becoming one of South Korea’s most recognisable TV actresses, left the courtroom in tears after the ruling, Korea JoongAng Daily added.